ER Episode 13.16 Crisis of Conscience

Sam was at work when a policeman came by with Alex in the backseat. She found out Alex was caught stealing from a laundry mat near his school. She demanded he go back home and wait for her. She thanked the cop for not arresting Alex and giving him a warning instead.

Abby was working with an interesting patient who claimed that every time he had a seizure, he also would become psychic and predict an action that would take place around him. He swore to Abby that he really didn't need to be in the hospital and that he had a neurologist that would take care of him.

Gates and Sam were treating a woman named Anna for acute liver failure. Her teenage son never left her side, making it hard for Gates to be extremely honest with his patient. When her son left to call his brother, Gates explained how serious Anna's condition really was. Gates felt that Anna was on a suicidal mission and didn't want treatment for her condition.

Gates was able to get Anna to vaguely admit that she had been consuming small amounts of cleaning fluid with her juice in hopes of killing herself. Gates tried to assure her she had a lot to live for. Shortly after, Anna passed out.

Neela was surprised to find out one of the surgical interns was donating a kidney to a total stranger. When she stopped to ask him what his motive was, she was shocked to hear he was selling his kidney to the recipient. She tried to make it clear that it was illegal to buy and sell body parts, but the intern was more concerned with paying off student loans and moving his family to the United States.

Ray and Abby were working hard to help a cheerleader who had fallen from the top of a human pyramid the girls had formed. The girls refused to leave Tasha's side, making it harder for the doctors to work. Tasha's spleen had been severely damaged and she needed to go into surgery. Tasha later confided in Neela and Ray that the other girls had attacked her and she made up the pyramid story.

Anna's sons came in as the doctors were working hard to save her life. It was looking bleak and the doctors were preparing for the worst. As her youngest son pleaded with her to come back, her heart started beating again, but Kovac warned her sons that she suffered a lot of brain damage. Her oldest son commented that his mom couldn't even die right.

Gates found out that the anger coming from Anna's oldest son, Nick had to do with her gambling addiction and the debt that it had incurred on their family. He wanted her gone and out of his life. Gates broke it down that she was going to survive the liver failure, but would be severely brain damaged and had to be looked after. Anna's condition worsened and Gates gave Nick and Evan the chance to say good-bye to their mother.

Ray let the cheerleading coach know that Tasha's injuries were not sustained from doing a routine and that the other girls attacked her. The coach tried to defend the girls actions saying they were only trying toughen up Tasha. Ray had no choice but to get the authorities involved.

Abby was about to treat her psychic patient for his epilepsy and gave him a chance to tell her any last words of wisdom. He caught her off guard when he told her that she should invite her dad to the wedding. This was a shock, because Kovac and Abby made it a deal to keep their upcoming nuptials a secret until they were ready.

Kovac wanted to know why Gates refused to be honest in Anna's death certificate. Gates wanted to leave the certificate reading that she died of liver failure, because if the insurance company knew it was suicidal, Nick and Evan wouldn't receive any money. Kovac was worried about Gates and his morals. Kovac made an enraged Gates change the facts on the death certificate. After seeing Anna's sons, Kovac later changed it back to liver failure.

Sam was beginning to feel guilty for Alex's bad behavior. She went to his bedroom door and apologized for not giving him the most stable childhood. She told him she only wanted him to be happy in life and didn't how to give that to him. She wanted him to tell her what to do.

After a long day, Gates came home and found that Sarah made him a full course dinner and had a beer waiting for him. While Neela headed to the bar to meet up with Ray for an after work beer.