As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread throughout the world, the first responders begin to adjust to a new normal at Gaffney. Meanwhile, Dr. Halstead has his hands full when treating a patient with an injured arm who constantly falls and begins to suspect that she might be an alcoholic, while also dealing with his girlfriend Hannah's newest relapse. Dr. Marcel and Dr. Manning treat a patient whose cancer has returned. April and Dr. Choi are put in charge of the COVID-19 unit and deal with the latest patient to die from the virus. Elsewhere, Dr. Charles is forced to quarantine after contracting COVID-19 and Sharon must work from home due to her health.
When Sharon announces that Dr. Choi has been chosen as the new Chief of the ED, Dr. Halstead lets his resentment get the better of him. Later, a young girl is admitted with breathing problems and her mom is admitted after contracting COVID. Meanwhile, Dr. Manning treats a pregnant patient who has been convicted of an assault and gets annoyed when the patient's parole officer starts to intervene. Dr. Charles and Dr. Marcel bond over therapy. Also, Dr. Charles deals with family drama.
Dr. Charles, Dr. Choi, and April tend to a young patient who they suspect was abducted at a young age. Meanwhile, Maggie and Dr. Halstead treat an elderly patient with heart problems whose daughter, his caretaker, begins to intervene. Dr. Marcel deals with an ex from his past as a patient. While taking FaceTime calls from patients, Dr. Manning begins to suspect that one of the callers is afraid of going to hospitals during the pandemic. Also, April and Dr. Choi butt heads when he requests she come back down to the ED from the COVID unit.
Note: This episode was originally scheduled to air on January 6, 2021, but was preempted by media coverage of the January 6 United States Capitol attack
Sharon returns to work following her quarantine from COVID-19. Meanwhile, Dr. Choi meets a doctor who performed multiple surgeries to make his body perfect and consults with Dr. Charles. Dr. Marcel and Dr. Manning put their careers in jeopardy when they treat a patient who was undiagnosed with cancer and are confronted by Sharon. Later, Dr. Choi snaps at Dr. Charles and slams his hand in the bathroom napkin dispenser. Dr. Halstead struggles to get donors for a clinical trial and finds an unlikely helper in April. Dr. Manning tends to Maggie's friend Auggie and continues to flirt with Dr. Marcel.
Dr. Choi is put into an impossible situation when April's brother, Noah, assists one of his very depressed patients and the patient is undecided whether to commit suicide. Dr. Choi is unsure whether he should turn Noah in or lie to authorities. Meanwhile, Dr. Halstead does everything to keep his trial going. Dr. Charles continues to fight for custody of his daughter so she does not have to move to Arizona. Dr. Charles' daughter Anna requests help from Dr. Manning. Also, Dr. Manning and Dr. Marcel talk about their romantic encounter.
Dr. Marcel and Dr. Manning deal with a patient who was undiagnosed with a cancerous tumor. Later on, Dr. Marcel makes it personal when the patient decides to give up on life. Dr. Choi and April treat a patient who has extremely bad pain in his jaw. Meanwhile, Maggie runs out of options when it comes to finding a liver transplant for her foster son. After discovering a pregnancy pamphlet, Dr. Charles confronts his daughter Anna about her actions. Also, Dr. Halstead considers a career decision.
Dr. Halstead searches for answers as one of his patients from his clinical trial begins to have complications. Dr. Marcel and Dr. Manning diagnose a patient with an aggressive cancer disguised as pneumonia. Dr. Choi is admitted to the hospital after having surgery to remove his gallbladder. Dr. Charles tends to a doctor who begins experiencing a possible psychotic breakdown. Sharon and her son Michael argue about surgery protocols after Dr. Abrams scolds him for upselling during a procedure. Also, Maggie learns that Auggie has an older brother living in California and his adoptive parents want to meet him.
Dr. Marcel treats Dr. Manning's mother after she is rushed to the hospital with heart failure. Things get heated when Dr. Halstead intervenes during her course of treatment. Dr. Choi hires his old navy mentor to join the ED. He begins to start giving orders to Dr. Choi, which annoys April. Meanwhile, Dr. Charles deals with a patient who suffers from a delusion that her deceased baby is still alive in a doll and also deals with his daughter officially moving to Arizona. Later, his wife makes the decision to let Anna stay in Chicago. Maggie receives news that Auggie's brother's adoptive parents want to adopt Auggie.
Dr. Charles deals with a patient who accidentally injected a nail into her foot. Maggie bonds with a young woman who is taken to Chicago Med for an emergency. Dr. Archer calls out Drs. Manning and Marcel about their relationship and they try to balance the relationship while working in the Emergency Department.
After treating a patient in the field, April goes the extra mile to see the patient's course of treatment through at the hospital. Meanwhile, Dr. Choi and Dr. Halstead have a disagreement when dealing with a pregnant patient with irregular heartbeats. Also, Dr. Marcel performs a difficult surgery when a piece of metal that could cause serious complications is lodged in a patient's chest.
April is chosen to work in a COVID unit at Chicago Med, but her actions with a patient bring dire consequences. Meanwhile, Dr. Charles treats a man with a brain tumor who has a seizure while being treated. Also, Dr. Marcel leaves a lasting impression on Dr. Manning's mother, and Drs. Choi and Varani tend to a young athlete with a heart condition who wants to participate in the U.S. Open.
After receiving poor news from her mother Carol's heart testing results, Dr. Manning takes matters into her own hands in order to keep her mother alive. Meanwhile, Dr. Charles tends to a previous patient who has been harming herself with poison. Dr. Choi notices Dr. Archer is beginning to experience PTSD while on a field call. Also, Dr. Halstead comes clean with Dr. Virani about his actions during the clinical trial.
Sharon spirals into a panic when she gets into a car accident involving a young child riding his bike at night. Things take a turn for the worse when the child needs brain surgery. Meanwhile, Dr. Manning grows worried when Dr. Halstead goes around searching for missing narcotics from his trial that she swiped to help her mother. Maggie contemplates meeting her long lost daughter. Also, April is put into an uncomfortable situation when Dr. Archer asks her to take over performing a procedure.
Dr. Manning's mother is rushed to the hospital when her health begins to rapidly decline. Dr. Halstead begins to suspect that Dr. Manning is responsible for the missing trial medication. Meanwhile, April grows worried about Dr. Archer because she thinks that he might have given an overdose to a patient when he refused treatment due to his political beliefs. Also, Maggie is shocked to discover that her daughter is one of the new student doctors at Gaffney.
Dr. Manning's mother is rushed to the hospital again after new complications arise. Dr. Manning and Dr. Halstead become desperate for answers after it is discovered that she will need a heart transplant. Meanwhile, Dr. Archer and Dr. Choi tend to a patient with a brain condition who refuses treatment. Dr. Charles is put into a stressful situation when a previous patient tries to harm herself after being refused attention from him. Also, Maggie meets her daughter's adoptive parents.
Carol receives a second chance at life when a new heart becomes available. Dr. Choi and Dr. Archer find themselves in hot water with an old patient. Dr. Halstead faces the consequences of the stolen trial medication.
^This episode was originally scheduled to air on January 6, 2021, in the United States and Canada. In the United States it was preempted as a result of the January 6 United States Capitol attack however the episode still partially aired on its originally scheduled air date for Canada's east coast on CityTV before being switched for a re-run of episode 2.
Production
Filming
After shutting down in early March due to COVID-19, production on the new season picked up on Sept. 22. NBC revealed on September 29, 2020, that the series took a two-week hiatus after a crew member tested positive for COVID-19. The positive result was discovered during rapid testing and the unnamed individual was immediately sent home. The temporary shutdown did not affect Med's Season 6 premiere or the production schedules for Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D..[21]
Casting
On September 22, 2020, Tehmina Sunny has been tapped for a multi-episode arc.[2] On May 12, 2021, it was announced that longtime cast members Yaya DaCosta and Torrey DeVitto would depart the series at the end of the sixth season opting not to renew their contracts and new work opportunities.[22] DeVitto appeared in the season 7 premiere to wrap up her character's storyline.
Ratings
Viewership and ratings per episode of Chicago Med season 6
^Chicago Med 'Jodi Kingsley as DCFS Officer Madeline Gastern (seasons 1- present), a Department of Child and Family Services social worker attached to Gaffney Medical Center'
