"Half Measures" is the nineteenth episode of Season 6 of The Good Doctor. It is the hundred-and-thirteenth episode overall, and aired on April 10, 2023.
Synopsis[]
Drs. Andrews and Lim clash over a patient split nearly in half, which also reveals her issues with Dr. Kalu’s return. Meanwhile, Dr. Glassman gives Dr. Murphy some fatherly advice as they await news about Glassman’s recent tests.
Plot[]
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This episode weaves together several compelling patient and doctor narratives, exploring themes of family, difficult choices, and the profound impact of medical conditions.
The story opens with Shaun and his wife grappling with the possibility of their baby, Steve, having autism. Shaun, a doctor, observes Steve's lack of vocalization 1, a fascination with ceiling fans 2, and limited eye contact3, leading him to suspect autism. He advocates for early testing and consultation with a pediatric neurologist 4, even suggesting an fMRI study5. His wife, however, is hesitant, desiring to simply enjoy their baby 6and fearing that a diagnosis might unfairly label him7. Their disagreement creates tension, with Shaun emphasizing the importance of early intervention 8and his wife expressing anxieties about her adequacy as a mother9. Despite her reservations, Shaun's wife ultimately agrees to the study10.
Another central plot involves Tayo, a child born with a unique third arm 11, which his father endearingly calls his "aburo" or "little brother"12. This extra limb, however, is compressing his trachea, causing severe breathing difficulties13. Doctors explain that one of his arms must be removed to save his life14. This news sparks a heart-wrenching debate between his parents: his father wants to remove the smaller, third arm to preserve the larger, functional one 15, while his mother insists on removing the larger arm16. Tayo, caught in the middle, expresses his sadness over his parents' conflict 17and worries about making them unhappy18. A blood flow test is performed to aid in the difficult decision 19, leading to the heartbreaking conclusion that the larger arm must be amputated20202020.
A third narrative focuses on Mason Landover, an astronaut recently returned from an eight-month stint on the International Space Station21. He's experiencing severe pain 22, significant bone loss 23232323, and a dilated heart chamber causing arrhythmias 24—all attributed to the rigors of zero gravity25252525. More profoundly, Mason undergoes a dramatic personality shift, suddenly yearning for a settled life and children 26, a stark contrast to his wife Ana's career-driven aspirations27. It's later discovered that he has hydrocephalus, an accumulation of excess fluid compressing his brain 28, a delayed consequence of his time in space 29, which explains his newfound domestic desires30.
Finally, this episode delves into the challenging case of Hannah, a patient battling addiction. Dr. Park attempts to guide her toward recovery, offering Tylenol for pain 31and encouraging her to enter rehab32. Hannah initially resists, maintaining she has her addiction "under control"33. However, after an overdose at the doctor's house 34, Dr. Lim (not Dr. Park as previously stated) makes an unconventional and risky decision: to personally administer controlled doses of oxycodone to Hannah 35353535, prioritizing her immediate survival above all else36.
Beyond the medical cases, the episode explores the personal lives and relationships of the medical professionals. Dr. Reznick's somewhat awkward public proposal to Dr. Park 37 adds a touch of levity. Dr. Lim shares a deeply personal story of her daughter's overdose with Hannah38, hoping to convey the profound dangers of addiction. Ultimately, Dr. Park and Ana, Mason's wife, find common ground and reconcile. Ana decides to prioritize their relationship and the possibility of starting a family, while still pursuing her career by taking a sabbatical39, signaling a hopeful future for them.
Cast[]
- Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy
- Fiona Gubelmann as Dr. Morgan Reznick
- Will Yun Lee as Dr. Alex Park
- Christina Chang as Dr. Audrey Lim
- Paige Spara as Lea Dilallo
- Bria Samoné Henderson as Dr. Jordan Allen
- Noah Galvin as Dr. Asher Wolke
- Brandon Larracuente as Dr. Daniel Perez
- Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews
- Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman
- Giacomo Baessato as Jerome Martel
- Elfina Luk as Nurse Dalisay Villanueva
- April Cameron as Nurse Alyssa Hawks
- Chuku Modu as Dr. Jared Kalu
Trivia[]
- This episode shares the same title of episode 03x12 from Breaking Bad aired on June 6, 2010.
- Jared reveals that he quit his surgical residency in Denver after he advocated for an experimental surgery to save a cancer patient which ended with the patient dying on the table, something that shook Jared's confidence in himself.
- Jordan is shown to have feelings for both Jared and Danny and to be struggling with who to choose.
- While Glassman has a lesion on his brain, tests confirm that it's not his brain tumor returning. However, Glassman misses a step while putting together a crib for Shaun and Lea, confirming that there really is something wrong with his brain.
- This episode is directed by Freddie Highmore who plays Dr. Shaun Murphy.
- Powell's firing in "The Good Boy" and Jared's lawsuit against the hospital for racism in "Islands: Part Two" are brought up.
- This is the 50th appearance of Jordan.
Multimedia[]
Promotional Images[]
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BTS Images[]
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Videos[]
