aper

"'STUCK ON YOU'"
Season 5, Episode 6 (overall Episode 97)
Original Airdate: November 5, 1998
Written By: Neal Baer
Directed by: David Nutter
(Plot 1 - Mark)

Mark goes for a ride-along with the paramedics, and they encounter gunshots. Mark sees a man lying in the street and goes out to treat him, despite the paramedic's warnings to wait for back up. The patient is not shot, just beaten up, and Mark again contradicts the paramedics by intubating him in the street, rather than in the rig. Amidst the pouring rain and continued gunfire, Mark and the paramedics stabilize the patient and transport him to the hospital. One of the paramedics notes "next time you decide to do a ride- along I'm taking the day off".
At the hospital Mark and Kerry treat the still unconscious patient. Kerry tells Mark that Dan Litvak turned the chief's job down - he had used County's offer to get a bigger salary at home. Mark tells Kerry "you are the only other candidate on the short list".

The patient turns out to be a sixteen-year-old boy named Kevin, who lives on the streets and works as a male prostitute. He tells Mark his father kicked him out of the house a year ago. Mark administers a rapid HIV test, which turns out to be negative. However, his blood alcohol level is .16. Mark tells him he should get his life together. Kevin asks to take a shower and Mark tells him a nurse will take him to the shower room. Kevin asks Mark to join him, but Mark declines.

Mark discovers through an ultrasound that Kevin has a blood clot in his leg. Kevin tells Mark that he has protein "s" deficiency and is prone to blood clots. Mark starts him on heparin by IV, and tells him he needs to take coumadin. Kevin refuses, since he could bleed to death on the streets with that drug. Mark points out that if he doesn't take the drug he could die of a blood clot. Mark gets teen shelter information from Carol, and gives it to Kevin. Mark tells Kevin he could get a GED, go to college, etc. Kevin says it is no use, and Mark angrily asks him if he wants to die on the street. Kevin notes "you're cute when you're angry" and Mark asks "is that the only way you can relate to me by turning me into a customer?"

Mark finds out there is a warrant for Kevin's arrest, and the cop tells him to let him know when he will be discharged so he can be picked up. Mark is reluctant to do that since Kevin could bleed to death if he's beat up in juvenile detention. Instead Mark sneaks Kevin out and puts him in a cab, giving him $50, his pager number, a list of shelters, and the coumadin. Kevin reluctantly takes it.

Anspaugh tells Mark that they are going to be conducting a new nationwide search for the ER chief. Anspaugh tells Mark that they want a "star with a national reputation who can bring in research grants". Anspaugh notes that there would be no point in telling Kerry she was second choice "only disappoint her more". Mark tells Kerry about the new search. Kerry says she is not going to resubmit her name, and that she is no longer the interim chief. Mark asks her who's going to do it, and Kerry responds "not my problem".
As Mark is leaving work he encounters the paramedics from that morning. Mark apologizes for his actions, and the paramedics invite Mark to a poker game.