Chicago Med season 10, episode 3 set up a painful storyline for Hannah (Jessy Schram) that could lead her toward self-destruction. When Hannah first joined the Chicago Med cast, she was in active addiction to heroin, and Will learned she was a doctor at the hospital soon after meeting her in a clinic for heroin users. She eventually went to rehab, and she has been sober ever since her return in season 7. Hannah has often demonstrated commitment to her sobriety and has weathered several crises without relapsing into drug abuse.
Hannah’s sobriety is due in part to her support system. In seasons 7 and 8, she had a romance and then a friendship with Will. Will did not return to Chicago Med in season 9, and Hannah was spun off into an on-again, off-again relationship with new doctor Mitch Ripley. Her relationship with Ripley has been a source of stress since the beginning of season 10 and is one of several stressors that could be leading Hannah toward a fall, especially after the tragedy she experienced at the end of season 10, episode 3.
Hannah Heartbreakingly Loses A Patient In Chicago Med Season 10, Episode 3
The Patient Died On The Operating Table Shortly After Giving Birth
Throughout Chicago Med season 10, episode 3, Hannah struggled to gain the trust of a pregnant patient, Eloise, who did not trust her because she had bad experiences with white doctors who dismissed her complaints as a Black woman. Heartbreakingly, Eloise died on the operating table of a massive bleed hours after a successful delivery of her baby. Her death was devastating for Hannah, in part because Hannah had promised Eloise she would survive life-saving surgery to repair the source of the bleed.
Hannah’s upset at losing this patient was exacerbated by the other ways her life had been unraveling. She’d had a huge fight with Ripley, who accused her of not being a good person, and she also was facing the possible elimination of her job, as new ED co-chief Caitlin Lenox (Sarah Ramos) was questioning her about why the ED needed a full-time OBGYN. These stressors, combined with her guilt and self-blame over leaving Eloise’s baby without a mother, led to Hannah breaking down in the OR after the other medical providers convinced her to stop trying to resuscitate Eloise.
Hannah’s Difficult Chicago Med Season 10 Start Could Lead Her To Relapsing
Her Guilt Over Eloise’s Death Could Be The Last Straw For Her
There have been previous occasions where Hannah was very stressed without turning to drugs, and in one instance, she was offended by the suggestion that she might relapse. However, those were cases in which she dealt with an isolated stressor such as a passionate disagreement with Archer about patient care. In this case, Hannah is dealing with multiple sources of stress, all of them painful. Furthermore, her feelings about Eloise’s death include guilt and self-blame, both of which are powerful emotions that people often seek escape from.
Hannah’s emotions were running high both before and after Eloise’s death. Although Eloise initially did not trust Hannah, the two bonded later, and Eloise shared that she and her husband had hoped to have a big family but had now accepted that this baby would be their only child. During that conversation, Eloise asked Hannah if Hannah wanted kids; Hannah’s reply that in the past she didn’t because she had made bad choices could have been foreshadowing of her potential relapse.
Hannah could turn to drugs to ease her sense that she is to blame for Eloise’s death, especially given all the other stressors she is dealing with.
Eloise’s death was harder for Hannah to bear now that the two had bonded. Additionally, Eloise’s husband thanked Hannah for her help in saving their baby, which undoubtedly made Hannah feel even worse about being unable to save his wife on the operating table. She also carries guilt over leaving baby Ruby without a mother and betraying her promise that Eloise would wake up after surgery and see her baby girl again. Thus, Hannah could turn to drugs to ease her sense that she is to blame for Eloise’s death, especially given all the other stressors she is dealing with.
How Hannah’s Possible Relapse Impacts Chicago Med Season 10’s Story
There Are Many Potential Consequences For Even A Small Slip
Gaffney Medical Center is short-staffed at a time that Sharon is being pressured to lay people off. With Lenox questioning whether it’s an efficient use of resources for the ED to have a full-time OBGYN, it’s likely that a relapse would put Hannah’s job in jeopardy. Steven Weber’s Dean Archer might also be the one who has to decide whether Hannah should be allowed to remain on staff given her condition. This would be difficult for him both because of his friendship with Hannah and his tumultuous relationship with his son, who is also a recovering addict.
Hannah’s job, relationship, and life are in danger if she goes back to drug use, which would make for a heartbreaking and powerful story that could also help raise awareness around addiction…
It would be devastating if Hannah threw away the sobriety she has worked hard to maintain for half a decade. However, it opens the door for Chicago Med to offer strong drama. Hannah’s job, relationship, and life are in danger if she goes back to drug use, which would make for a heartbreaking and powerful story that could also help raise awareness around addiction, especially the fact that long-term sobriety is not a guarantee that someone will never abuse drugs again.
