The Good Doctor Wiki
Register
Advertisement
The Good Doctor Wiki

"She" is the fourteenth episode of Season 1 of The Good Doctor. It aired on February 5, 2018.

Synopsis[]

Dr. Shaun Murphy is surprised to learn that his young cancer patient identifies as a girl while being biologically male. Shaun must quickly learn to understand his patient, her medical needs and how to work with her family, who all feel they know what is best for her.[2]

Plot[]

Shaun is getting dressed for work when his new neighbor Kenny knocks on his sliding door, finding out that he doesn’t have cable but is using an antenna. Kenny wants to run a cable line through Shaun’s apartment, telling him that it would be a lot better than the 10 channels he gets with the antenna; Shaun agrees.

At the hospital, Neil introduces everyone to Dr. Morgan Reznick (one of Dr. Coyle’s former residents) who will be joining their team. Claire is happy to meet her. Morgan asks Jared if he is the autistic one, but Shaun tells her that he is. Dr. Lim then organizes them into a competition to create teamwork and have everyone show their strengths and weaknesses. Although Neil isn’t interested, Lim offers the winning team gets first dibs on assisting on any surgeries for the next week. Lim chooses Shaun and Jared, while Neil gets Claire and Morgan.

Lim, Jared and Shaun meet their patient; Quinn, a girl with stomach pains. When Dr. Lim lifts her gown to check her stomach further, she quickly lowers it in shock and Shaun says that Quinn is a boy. Quinn's grandmother Ruth insists this is just a phase but Quinn says she isn't a boy; she’s a girl. Dr. Lim asks if she is transgender and Quinn admits she is but Shaun doesn’t understand so Jared explains that she is mix-matched. Quinn asks Shaun how does he know he is supposed to be a boy and he tells her that her question doesn't make sense because biologically he is a boy.

Neil, Claire and Morgan meet with Howard Shaw, a teacher who passed out in class. He insists it’s because he hasn't eaten breakfast before work this morning and explains all the medication he has been taking lately due to various ailments, but they were not recently prescribed but were in his medicine cabinet. He winces in pain when touched, so Neil orders an ultrasound of his stomach. Meanwhile, Dr. Andrews and Isabel go to see the fertility specialist, who advises them to stop worrying and she will take some samples and they will go from there. She asks them to put their trust in her and just continue to focus on one another.

During his ultrasound, Claire reveals to Howard that his appendix has already ruptured and they need to rush him to the OR; he is more concerned with calling the school to get a sub-teacher and who will get his children but Morgan says they cannot wait or he will become septic. She takes him to the OR, leaving the menial task of making the phone calls to Claire (to her dismay).

Shaun comes to see Quinn who is going for an MRI, curious to know why Quinn thinks “he” is a girl. Jared stops him from asking all the questions and they begin the test. Meanwhile, Neil is able to remove Howard's appendix but when he asks Claire a teaching question, Morgan interrupts and takes over the answer, saying she is impartial since they have already published some of her work. Neil asks them to close up and as they do so Claire says she is happy there is another girl on the team, but Morgan says they are not going to be friends, showing a competitiveness attitude (while Claire thanks her for the heads up).

Shaun wants to know if Quinn is complicated or confused which annoys Jared. Shaun reveals that transgender care was not part of his medical school curriculum, while Jared admits the same with him. As they watch the scans appear on screen, they realize that Quinn has testicular cancer. They and Lim inform Quinn and Ruth that Quinn has a mass on her left testicle, but the prognosis is good as they caught it before it spread. They also reveal that Quinn has osteopenia and believe that it’s caused by puberty blockers she admits she’s been taking. Quinn didn’t tell them before because neither she nor her parents wanted Ruth to know.

Morgan and Claire check on Howard, who has an infection. Morgan says they can treat it with antibiotics but it means he will be in the hospital for a couple extra nights, but he says he has to get out of there because he needs to be with his kids. Morgan tells him to consider this a blessing to be away from his kids, whom he hasn’t been away from since the day they were born. He looks at her and tells them they are his life and his wife died of ovarian cancer last year, so he hates hospitals. Claire offers to find a laptop so he can Skype with his children and some teddy bears that he can take home to them.

Dr. Lim tells Quinn the medication did not cause the cancer in any way but Shaun tells her she needs to stop taking them immediately because of the osteopenia. Jared says she will be fine without them, but she’s upset, knowing they can't reverse her having an Adam's apple, deep voice or hair all over her body. Outside Howard's room, Morgan mocks Claire over her “game” with her human decency to Howard. She also claims that everyone has an agenda, conscious or not, while Claire calls her out for her cynicism. Howard's alarms go off and when they rush back in; he has spiked a fever and they have no idea what has happened. Claire begs for him to hang on as they are going to figure this out.

Jared and Shaun arrive at the lab for Quinn's results but are told by a worker, Gus, they have to wait as the lab is totally backed up, only for Morgan to bribe him with a donut for Howard’s results. She then hands the file to Neil revealing that Howard has a superbug that is resistant to all medication. Meanwhile, Quinn's parents have finally arrived and Dr. Lim explains that her lab results are normal and they can do surgery first thing in the morning. Shaun suggests they could remove both of Quinn's testicles when she worries about being the freak, only to anger her grandmother about Shaun castrating Quinn. She again is insistent that Quinn is just going through a phase, but her parents are on her side, saying she will just have the reassignment surgery when she is old enough.

In the hallway, Lim chastises Shaun over what he said which is making her doubt her decision to draft him onto her team. She then sends him and Jared off to prepare an SDA concerning a decision for all the options available to them for Quinn’s care. Concurrently, Neil and Morgan return to see Howard, explaining about the superbug he has that is resistant to every antibiotic because he has been exposed to all of them. He learns he did this to himself and because he wasn’t under a doctor's care, he is most likely taking the wrong medication for the wrong symptoms. Neil informs him they will have to perform a colostomy on him, which will leave a pouch on the outside of his body to collect the waste from his body; and from the damage they have seen from his colon it looks like it will be indefinitely.

In the doctor’s lounge, Jared is angry about what Shaun has done concerning Quinn, thus causing them to lose the competition. Shaun laughs, saying it is only a game and not important but Jared tells him it is to him because his job depends on it. Andrews later returns home from work and learns the fertility specialist called; she found an irregularity in one of the tests and wants to rerun it to be sure. Andrews tries to reassure Isabel, but she says they are both doctors and know the results are not going to change. She feels she waited too long, and now that she is in her 40s, it is all her fault. Andrews says she had goals and other priorities, as well as that he is so proud of her but they both knew it could come at a cost and feels they should have just started sooner. She realizes he has been stewing over this and wants to know how long he has resented her. He says that he doesn't, but can’t tell her this isn't her fault.

Shaun is at home, watching TV, when Kenny walks in through his sliding door. He questions Shaun about his job and life, while Shaun explains that items in his apartment were given by his neighbors in Wyoming, lays back down and begins to watch TV alongside Kenny. The next day, Dr. Glassman and Dr. Lim come to talk to Quinn's parents; Ruth filed a complaint that they are abusing Quinn, as allowing Quinn to believe that being transgender is okay is a form of abuse. Glassman says they don’t agree with Ruth whatsoever and that Dr. Lim will testify against her but Quinn's parents tell Dr. Lim to perform the bilateral surgery and then Ruth will have nothing to fight them over.

Andrews and Isabel return to see the fertility clinic and learn that the issue is with Marcus' sperm; he has a low sperm count. She tells them it isn't great news, but its not a dead end either. She refers him to a urologist and Isabel reminds him they will get through this together.

Claire finds that Howard’s results came back but Morgan never told her, to Morgan says it doesn’t matter anyways because there is no way they are going to win this competition. Claire gets angry at how that’s what Morgan is focused on and not sympathy for what Howard is going through, only for Morgan to remind her that they don’t have time to get emotionally involved; their job is to go in, perform the surgery and get out. Claire suddenly comes up with a great idea, saying they could avoid surgery altogether but she wants to pull all the research she can before pitching it to Melendez.

Glassman, Lim, Ruth and Quinn’s parents have a meeting, where Quinn’s parents reveal they always used to force Quinn to present herself as a boy in public but she became so reclusive and hated herself so much she attempted suicide a year ago. While Dr. Andrews arrives late to the meeting, Claire joins Neil in the cafeteria and presents him with the idea she had. He isn’t convinced until Morgan arrives and pushes it, showing how much of a team player she really is (but only when it benefits her). She also states that Claire will be the only doctor who can handle the feces when it arrives at the hospital, to safe guard it, strain it and decontaminate it for the transplant.

Shaun is alone with Quinn and still questions her, which she states is better than pointing and staring at her. She explains how free she feels, while agreeing with Shaun when he states that he doesn’t know how to be anyone but himself. Back in the board room, Quinn's parents listen as Lim argues with Andrews that Quinn should have the bilateral surgery. However, he is against it as it’s an elective surgery on a child. Glassman tells Ruth and Quinn's parents that ultimately they need to decide what is best for Quinn. When they keep disagreeing about it, Glassman talks about his own personal tragedy and asks if it is really worth sacrificing a life over an idea that may never be.

Jared rushes into Quinn's room when her alarms are sounding. Her temperature is 104 and he does an ultrasound, saying she needs surgery immediately. Dr. Andrews rushes into the boardroom, saying he needs a decision now, and the surgery Quinn needs. In the end, the parents tell Dr. Andrews to do what is medically necessary as Quinn is a child and may want to have children one day. In the OR, the alarms on the monitors go off and everything seems normal, so they wonder if it is a reaction to the anesthesia.

While operating on Howard, Claire notes no signs of any leakage. When Neil praises her, Claire wants to write about the procedure and submit it for publication. When Morgan wants to assist with it, Neil says he read a paper done by Morgan and was impressed, suggesting Claire should read it when she gets a chance. Unfortunately, Quinn is not responding to anything, so Shaun visualizes saying it is possible there is internal bleeding. Andrews doesn’t feel they have a choice and cut her open again. Shaun says Jared was right and they find a pool of blood inside.

Neil, Claire and Morgan visit Howard in his room, saying they expect a full recovery. Morgan as a surprise for him; his twins who come rushing in and he introduces them to Morgan and Claire, only to forget Claire’s name. At the same time, Quinn finally wakes up from surgery and finds out they only removed the cancerous left testicle. She is upset that her parents also agreed to only have the one testicle removed. Andrews sits down beside her and tells her, she may never know that one day she might want to have a child. She says she doesn't need a bio-kid; she could always adopt if she wanted one and promises she will be back when she is 18 for her gender confirmation surgery, for which Andrews promises he will be there to help her.

Patient satisfactory scores are in, and they are very close. Dr. Lim congratulates Morgan and Claire, with Morgan saying she and Claire made a great team and walks away. Neil tells Dr. Lim "to the victor belongs the spoils!" She gives him money and tells him not to spend it in one place, but he says he plans on framing it.

Shaun and Jared agree that they also make a great team. While Shaun starts to refer to Quinn as “she”, Neil asks Claire if she read Morgan's paper yet. She says it is on the top of her "to do" list. He says he didn't tell her to read it to rub it in; he wants her to know what she is up against, as well as saying that she is smart and special and encourages her to rise up and play the game on her own terms.

Outside, Glassman finds Shaun sitting on the bench. He is happy that Shaun gets that Quinn is a she and says being a kid is tough enough, but being a transkid is off the chart and could never imagine being so different on the outside as opposed to on the inside. Shaun begins to walk away, even after Aaron offers to drive him home, but Shaun turns it down considering Glassman’s statement that they can’t be friends. Shaun also knocks on Kenny’s door, asking for his help. Kenny opens the locked and closed door to the pool and Shaun just floats, telling Kenny he is simply "understanding” in reference to something Quinn told him.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

  • Teryl Rothery as JL
  • Adil Zaidi as Nurse Dhanoa
  • Alvina August as Nurse Alana Paikin
  • Nelson Wong as Lab Tech
  • Zahf Paroo as Dr. Ashique Selim
  • London Cardinal as Keira Shaw
  • Waverly Cardinal as Sammy Shaw

Trivia[]

Multimedia[]

Gallery[]

Videos[]

References[]

External Links[]

The Good Doctor : Episodes
Season 1
#1 Burnt Food#2 Mount Rushmore#3 Oliver#4 Pipes#5 Point Three Percent#6 Not Fake#7 22 Steps#8 Apple#9 Intangibles#10 Sacrifice#11 Islands: Part One#12 Islands: Part Two#13 Seven Reasons#14 She#15 Heartfelt#16 Pain#17 Smile#18 More
Season 2
#1 Hello#2 Middle Ground#3 36 Hours#4 Tough Titmouse#5 Carrots#6 Two-Ply (or Not Two-Ply)#7 Hubert#8 Stories#9 Empathy#10 Quarantine#11 Quarantine: Part Two#12 Aftermath#13 Xin#14 Faces#15 Risk and Reward#16 Believe#17 Breakdown#18 Trampoline
Season 3
#1 Disaster#2 Debts#3 Claire#4 Take My Hand#5 First Case, Second Base#6 45-Degree Angle#7 SFAD#8 Moonshot#9 Incomplete#10 Friends and Family#11 Fractured#12 Mutations#13 Sex and Death#14 Influence#15 Unsaid#16 Autopsy#17 Fixation#18 Heartbreak#19 Hurt#20 I Love You
Season 4
#1 Frontline Part One#2 Frontline Part Two#3 Newbies#4 Not the Same#5 Fault#6 Lim#7 The Uncertainty Principle#8 Parenting#9 Irresponsible Salad Bar Practices#10 Decrypt#11 We're All Crazy Sometimes#12 Teeny Blue Eyes#13 Spilled Milk#14 Gender Reveal#15 Waiting#16 Dr. Ted#17 Letting Go#18 Forgive or Forget#19 Venga#20 Vamos
Season 5
#1 New Beginnings#2 Piece of Cake#3 Measure of Intelligence#4 Rationality#5 Crazytown#6 One Heart#7 Expired#8 Rebellion#9 Yippee Ki-Yay#10 Cheat Day#11 The Family#12 Dry Spell#13 Growing Pains#14 Potluck#15 My Way#16 The Shaun Show#17 The Lea Show#18 Sons
Season 6
#1 Afterparty#2 Change of Perspective#3 A Big Sign#4 Shrapnel#5 Growth Opportunities#6 Hot and Bothered#7 Boys Don't Cry#8 Sorry, Not Sorry#9 Broken or Not#10 Quiet and Loud#11 The Good Boy#12 365 Degrees#13 39 Differences#14 Hard Heart#15 Old Friends#16 The Good Lawyer#17 Second Chances and Past Regrets#18 A Blip#19 Half Measures#20 Blessed#21 A Beautiful Day#22 Love's Labor
Season 7
#1 Baby, Baby, Baby#2 Skin in the Game#3 Critical Support#4 Date Night#5 Who At Peace#6 M.C.E.#7 Foolish Notions#8 The Overview Effect
Advertisement