Ep 11. Faith, Hope & Surgery

Chicago Hope season 6 episode 11 titled "Faith, Hope & Surgery" follows the staff of Chicago's Hope-Zion Hospital as they work to save a young girl's life. The episode opens with Dr. Jeffrey Geiger (Mandy Patinkin) in a confessional, seeking guidance for a decision he must make. Meanwhile, an 11-year-old girl named Faith is rushed to the hospital with a life-threatening condition that requires surgery.

Dr. Geiger is the lead surgeon on Faith's case, but there are complications during surgery that leave her in a coma. As the doctors struggle to find a way to bring Faith out of her coma, her parents' devout religious beliefs force them to make a difficult decision. They believe that Faith's fate lies in God's hands and refuse to approve any medical treatments that go against their religious beliefs.

The hospital's ethics committee is called in to mediate the conflict between the doctors and Faith's parents. The committee is split on what the best course of action is, with some members siding with the parents' wishes, while others believe that saving Faith's life should be the priority.

The situation becomes even more complicated when Faith's parents' pastor arrives at the hospital and tries to intervene in their decision-making process. Dr. Kate Austin (Christine Lahti), who is part of the ethics committee, is particularly conflicted about the case because of her own Catholic faith.

Throughout the episode, viewers see the emotions and pressures that come with being a doctor and a patient. Geiger deals with mental anguish as he doubts his own medical capabilities while Kate Austin fights to find a solution that is both medically sound and morally just.

As the doctors continue to struggle with the ethical challenges of the case, faith, hope, and religion become prominent themes of the episode. The show questions the role of religion in medicine, asking whether religious beliefs should have an impact on important medical decisions.

Overall, Chicago Hope season 6 episode 11 is an intense and emotional journey for both the characters and the viewers. It explores the complexities of medical ethics and the importance of balancing morality with medical science.