Kate is stricken when she realizes that her negligence due to exhaustion caused the death of a young woman during surgery, and considers assuaging her guilt by informing the woman's parents of her error; Billy and Danny decide to help a teenager running a unlicensed clinic for indigent patients; Judge Aldrich retires from the bench and comes to work at the hospital as Alan's replacement; Camille's drug seeking behaviors continue; Diane has second thoughts about her research project when she realizes that she's become attached to the orangutan that she's successfully infected with AIDS.

Aaron is baffled when a seizure lands Camille in the ER. Nyland's holiday vacation plans are suddenly sidetracked by a delivery of supplies to Ricky's makeshift clinic with a Santa'-clad Hancock. A promising teen athlete fears that an operation could cost him the chance to play major league baseball. Grad meets a sweet but shy veterinarian.

The ER looks like the only game in town as avery disturbed family one by one injures each other during a therapy session. Geiger and his fellow clowns return to cheer up children injured in a bus accident, with a musical pantomine of ""The Emperor's New Clothes.""

Kate finds herself in a no-win situation when a child is injured during one of Sara's softball games. Phillip's Colonel from Vietnam is admitted with rheumatoid arthritis but refuses treatment. Nyland is suspended again. Shutt get a TV gig.