Ep 17. Withdrawal

The episode titled "Withdrawal" begins with two victims, a father-daughter duo, being rushed to Chicago Med's emergency room. The daughter is a drug addict who is going through withdrawal and her father got involved in a car accident while trying to help her. Late stages of withdrawal in addicts can lead to serious health complications and Dr. Manning administers medication to manage her symptoms.

Dr. Rhodes is overseeing a clinical trial of a new helmet which provides quick and non-invasive brain scans for head injury patients. He hopes this device can find a way to recognize which patients have serious injuries and which ones can be managed without extensive testing. One such patient, a young girl named Ava, has a gunshot wound to the head but the helmet shows no signs of internal bleeding or damage. However things don't turn out as Dr. Rhodes hoped for Ava, as the doctors find something else in her scans.

Ava's father is a gun enthusiast and believes that it would be safer for everyone if he keeps his guns around. His son has been shot before and he believes in knowing how to protect himself and his family. Dr. Manning, who is dealing with a personal issue of her own, tries to convince him otherwise, but he is firm in his belief. As the storyline progresses, the father's decision to keep his guns endangers not only his family but also the lives of those around him.

Meanwhile, Dr. Choi is trying to manage a patient named Anthony who has AIDS and was earlier prescribed painkillers. While his condition has improved, Anthony is now hooked on the painkillers and has been lying to Dr. Choi about his pain just to get the medicine. When Dr. Choi realizes this, he starts to wean Anthony off the drugs, and this leads to a series of emotional events forcing Dr. Choi to question whether he is doing the right thing or not.

The episode has a lot of dramatic stories running simultaneously, interwoven and skilfully written with superb direction. We see the characters dealing with ethical issues, moral conundrums, gun culture, and the stigma around addiction. The show captures a range of emotions that each stakeholder goes through, providing a realistic portrayal of human struggles.

The performances in the episode are outstanding and the writers have done an impressive job with the storyline. There is a perfect balance of humor, drama, and suspense throughout the episode creating a seamless flow. The pacing is just right, and the characters are well developed as they confront various issues that bring out their strengths and weaknesses.

Viewers of Chicago Med and fans of the medical drama genre will love this episode titled "Withdrawal." It keeps up with the high standards set by the series so far and adds another outstanding chapter to its collection. The storylines are gripping, and the quality of production and performances are excellent. It's a must-watch episode, and fans will certainly not be disappointed.