Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
A heart attack forces ER chief David Morgenstern to step away from the work he once handled, and Kerry Weaver takes over while he recovers. After a later surgical error and Morgenstern's loss of confidence in operating, he leaves County. Anna Del Amico works with the emergency staff, while Elizabeth Corday comes to Chicago for a surgical fellowship with Robert Romano. When Corday rejects Romano's advances, he threatens her position; she chooses to remain and begin again as an intern rather than return to England.
Jeanie Boulet is fired after Weaver follows advice from her Synergix boyfriend, Ellis West. Jeanie believes her HIV status is the real reason and challenges the dismissal; facing legal action, County reinstates her. Weaver recognizes that West is using her to secure the ER contract and breaks with him. Jeanie's former husband Al is forced to disclose his HIV status at work, loses his job, and asks her to move with him to Atlanta. She refuses, and he leaves. Jeanie later becomes a steady caregiver for Anspaugh's cancer-stricken son Scott, who dies despite her efforts.
Carol and Doug's relationship advances when Doug proposes in front of their colleagues and Carol accepts, although she later admits kissing a paramedic and says she is not ready to marry. Doug agrees to wait. With help from Carter's grandmother, Carol opens a free clinic inside the ER. Benton and Corday begin dating, bringing family friction into Benton's life. Greene recovers from his assault, visits his ill mother, and starts repairing his relationship with his father. During his absence, a chemical explosion sends casualties to County and exposes Weaver to toxic fumes; she briefly has a seizure.