Things are bustling at Gaffney Medical on Chicago Med Season 8 Episode 14.
While there was no winter storm to keep anyone down this time, the characters dealt with some complex cases that tested their moral and ethical responsibilities.
Asher rushed to the hospital to check on her patient, Liza, a former friend who was pregnant and struggling with an addiction. Asher promised to be a source of unwavering support, and she did not let Liza down, championing her every step of the way through pre-birth, birth, and her relapse shortly after.
It was a heartbreaking storyline but one that reminded audiences just how far Asher has come and how committed she is to helping others who walk the same path. Liza wanted to be a good mom, but she had vices that were just too strong. When Asher found her overdosing in the bathroom, she didn’t judge her or immediately rush to call DCFS despite Archer’s suggestion. Instead, she stood firmly in Liza’s corner, asking to buy some time so she could figure out a solution that didn’t strip Liza of her motherly agency.
While it wasn’t safe to send the baby—who Liza later named Hannah—home with her mother, they did find a temporary solution that would get Liza the help she needed while ensuring that her daughter was taken care of, with the eventual goal of reuniting them both.
Asher is a true ride-or-die, and the more we get to know her, the more she’s becoming one of my favorite characters.
Halstead actually did the right thing—on his own—for what may be the first time ever. While it was tempting to look the other way on Isaac’s results, Halstead knew that he had to order additional testing to rule out anything serious before they allowed him to go through with his kidney transplant.
Unfortunately, the MRI revealed that Isaac had cancer, which destroyed his only shot at getting a new kidney—and that’s not the news anyone wanted, especially Isaac.
While it was a tough call to make, and Nellie seemingly wanted Halstead to just turn a blind eye, it was the right one. Isaac’s body could never handle chemo and kidney treatment. The poor man walked into the ED hoping for a clean break and was dealt an even worse set of cards, but that’s the reality of life sometimes, and there’s nothing we can do about it.
Crockett, who has become 2.0’s biggest champion, found himself a little let down by the AI, but it was a good reminder that putting all your faith into a computerized robot isn’t what makes anyone a good doctor. Crockett has stopped relying on his skills and instincts, which is never good as that’s what made him the best of the best. 2.0 should be a guiding tool, but it should never do the work for you!
Audiences also got to see Crockett attach a severed hand to a leg to keep it alive longer before reattachment. I’m not exactly sure if this is possible in real life, but it was a seriously impressive and out-of-the-box solution.
Dr. Charles found himself walking a thin line between his personal and professional life. Liliana came to him about a custodial strike taking place at Gaffney, and naturally, he wanted to do everything in his power to help her.
However, he may have crossed a line when questioning why the hospital wouldn’t give the workers a 6% raise. While everyone deserves it, Sharon Goodwin was right that it would set a bad precedent for all the other union negotiations. And at the end of the day, her job is to cut costs and keep them down. It’s hospital politics. Charles should know that, so it was clear that he overstepped, letting his personal feelings for Liliana get in the way.
Liliana was also out of line for asking Charles to go on the record against the hospital. He’s good friends with Goodwin, so it’s in bad taste, plus, he doesn’t have a stake in the game. He already advocated for her and pushed some buttons, which she didn’t seem too grateful for. I’m not digging this relationship at all.
Of course, the promo for the upcoming episode reveals that a hospital strike is going to happen—and it won’t be pretty for those working the ED.
Speaking of relationships, Goodwin agreed to have lunch with a potential new board member, Dr. Thomas, at the request of Jack Dayton, and despite dreading the afternoon, it turned out to be a great meeting. She hit it off Thomas immediately, as he revealed some deep roots to the hospital—he was born there!
He seems like a decent guy who actually cares about the hospital and improving the patient experience, so I think she should endorse him for the board so that she has someone on her side. And I’m definitely not against the chemistry either. Goodwin deserves some love and happiness, and though she may have turned down Thomas’ offer for drinks, she was seriously considering it. Maybe next time she’ll take the leap? I almost feel like Dayton meant to set them up.
What did you think of the episode?