The End of a Beautiful Friendship

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A Lie Pushes Sam to the Edge
By Moira McMahon, Researcher

In episode 323, The End of a Beautiful Friendship, Maya and Dell are found in serious condition after being in a car accident.

Maya is struggling against a spinal fracture and possible nerve damage. To complicate matters, she is in active labor. Maya could lose her ability to walk. Or her life. Dell has a broken wrist, and other injuries that aren't apparent right away.

Charlotte has no choice but to use Sam to operate on the very man whose car hit Dell and Maya. In order to keep Sam from abandoning the patient, she does not tell him who he is. Sam works furiously to save the driver's life. Due to his underlying alcoholism, the patient actually wakes up during surgery. His liver is metabolizing the anesthesia faster than we can administer it. Despite all of these factors, Sam does save his life. He's a great surgeon.

After the surgery, Sam realizes that the man he just operated on IS the man who put his daughter's life in jeopardy. What Sam doesn't yet know is that this man's actions will cost Dell his life.

Sam is furious. He feels manipulated and lied to by Charlotte and Pete. Charlotte feels she didn't have another choice. Sam was the only person available. She has a responsibility to treat every patient that walks into St. Ambrose with excellent care.

Was it right not to tell Sam that the man he was operating was the drunk driver who slammed his car into Dell and Maya's car?

What would you do?