Ep 12. True Lies

Dr. Ross attends to a young boy who has been previously diagnosed with an ear infection but is now severely ill. The boy's mother is convinced that the antibiotics prescribed by another doctor are the cause of her son's condition. When Dr. Ross and Dr. Greene refuse to prescribe the mother's preferred treatment, she takes matters into her own hands and removes her son from the hospital.

Elsewhere in the ER, Nurse Hathaway must deal with a patient who repeatedly signs himself out against medical advice. After giving the patient an ultimatum, she is surprised to discover he is a famous author and the reason for his behavior is related to his latest work.

Dr. Lewis treats a woman who is suffering from odd symptoms and after a series of tests, she discovers that the patient has been taking large amounts of vitamins in an attempt to self-treat her symptoms. Meanwhile, Dr. Benton treats a man with a hernia who refuses to undergo surgery despite his worsening condition.

The episode explores themes of patient autonomy, the dangers of self-treatment, and the challenges of navigating the healthcare system. As always, the doctors and nurses of County General Hospital must work together to provide the best possible care to their patients, even when faced with difficult and complex cases.