Warning: This article contains discussions about suicidal ideation and SPOILERS forChicago Medseason 10, episode 16, “Poster Child.”
Season 10, episode 16 ofChicago Medmakes Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt) out to be a hero, but there’s a chance his handling of a delicate case will have extreme consequences. “Poster Child” packs in a number of storylines for virtually every character in theChicago Medcast, with a few of them setting up potentially major plot points. Lenox (Sarah Ramos) and Frost’s (Darren Barnet) subplots explore their histories a bit more thanChicago Medseason 10has thus far, and Ripley’s (Luke Mitchell) suspension arc is officially over.
As far as patients are concerned, one of the primary storylines involves Frost and Charles working together to help a young teen named Liam. It’s established that Liam has been regularly vomiting despite showing no other signs of illness, and his parents have brought him in to try and figure out the cause.Charles ultimately does get to the root of Liam’s illness,but in doing so he makes a call that could affect his story in a major way leading up toChicago Medseason 11.
Liam’s Case In Chicago Med Season 10, Episode 16 Explained
The Teen’s Vomiting Has A Surprising Cause
Although his parents explain that Liam’s been dealing with bouts of vomiting for some time, they take him to the hospital because things have gotten bad enough that he’s been throwing up blood. Tox screens show ipecac in his system, meaning thatLiam’s vomiting has been entirely self-induced. He’s developing internal lesions as a result, but he’s reluctant to explain to Charles why he feels the need to throw up. Liam initially seems to support the theory that he’s bulimic, but it quickly becomes apparent that there’s something else going on.
I Bet You Missed Brian Tee’s Chicago Med Season 10 Return
Brian Tee starred as Dr. Ethan Choi in the first eight seasons of Chicago Med, and two seasons after his exit, Tee sneakily returned to the show.
Before long,Charles reaches the conclusion that Liam is attempting conversion therapy on himself.Charles explains to Frost that there’s a specific form of Pavlovian aversion therapy in which homosexuals are made to feel queasy while looking at same-sex imagery. The goal is for them to develop an association between same-sex attraction and nausea so that they’ll feel sick whenever they have homosexual thoughts. Liam has been attempting this on himself because his parents don’t support his sexual orientation. Charles eventually gets Liam’s father to open his mind, but the fallout Charles causes in the process is less than ideal.
Charles Makes A Big Mistake In Treating Liam In Chicago Med Season 10, Episode 16
Liam’s Self-Loathing May Get Worse Before It Gets Better
When Frost learns that Liam is attempting his own conversion therapy, his very first question for Charles is whether Liam needs to be put on a psych hold. Liam’s mother likewise assumes this will happen, butCharles decides that holding Liam on the basis of self-harm isn’t necessary because Liam thinks he’s “fixing” himself. Furthermore, he says that holding Liam will affirm the idea that his sexuality makes him worthy of punishment. ButChicago Med’s Daniel Charlesshould know the point of suicide watch is simply to stop the self-harm from recurring.
In Liam’s case, neglecting to put him on a psych hold might have even done additional damage.
In Liam’s case, neglecting to put him on a psych hold might have even done additional damage. Liam’s father accepts his son in the end, but his mom praises him for trying to “fix a problem” on his own. She also tries to take him from the hospital, leading to Liam’s father threatening her custody right in front of Liam in the hallway. Liam’s mother actively refers to his sexuality as a problem that was going to occur at some point no matter what, but having it happen so publicly is likely to stick with him for some time.
Charles' Actions Should Have Consequences In Chicago Med Season 10
He Caused A Rather Public Scene In The Hallway
If Charles had put Liam on a hold, then his parents' argument could have happened in the hallway without Liam needing to witness it. Any trauma he deals with over being the subject of public shaming is directly on Charles' shoulders. AndCharles has already been called into question a few times this season.Reese’s (Rachel DiPillo) complaint against Charleswound up being resolved peacefully, but his behavior regarding Jackie (Natalie Zea) is ethically questionable at best. It’s starting to feel like Ripley is the only character who’s ever truly held accountable for anything.
After Everything That Ripley Did, I’m Disappointed At How Chicago Med Season 10 Concluded His Suspension Story
Chicago Med season 10, episode 16 quickly resolved Ripley’s suspension storyline despite the serious problems that he caused before he became a hero.
Charles really should be held to account for his dishonest role in Jackie’s custody hearing more than anything, but any potential fallout from denying Liam suicide watch would also achieve the end of the doctor answering for his mistakes inChicago Med. The episode ends with Liam still at Gaffney, so there’s every chance the show could bring him back for a follow-up appearance. Even after his father accepts him, Liam still apologizes for not being able to “fix” himself. That alone says that he’s certainly not out of the woods just yet.
