‘Chicago Med’: When Can Dr. Ethan Choi Return to Work?

In Chicago Med Season 7, Dr. Ethan Choi (Brian Tee) finally returned to the Emergency Department at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. Ethan has been recovering from a gunshot wound inflicted by a former patient. Now that he’s back in ED, many fans wonder when Ethan can officially go back to work. So, will Ethan Choi return to work anytime soon? 

What happened to Etha Choi in ‘Chicago Med’?

In the Chicago Med Season 6 finale, Ethan Choi and Dean Archer (Steven Weber) conversed in the hospital parking lot. Suddenly, Archer’s former appendicitis patient confronted him and Ethan with a gun in hand. Ethan tried to take the gun away from the man and got shot in the process. Then, Archer performed a risky surgery that ultimately saved Ethan’s life. 

Although Ethan survived the procedure, he has a long road of recovery ahead. In Chicago Med Season 7, he returned to Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. Eager to get back to work, Ethan performs his daily duties in the ED. But, he re-injured himself in the process. So now, Ethan’s injury might prolong his recovery. 

When can Ethan Choi go back to work?

In Chicago Med Season 7 Episode 8, titled “Just as a Snake Sheds its Skin,” Ethan is determined to get back to work in the ED. A patient involved in a car accident enters the hospital and needs surgery. Ethan has a technique to help the patient. He convinced Archer to let him perform the procedure. So, he removes his back braces and conducts the method successfully. However, Ethan starts crying out in pain, re-injuring himself. 

After performing an MRI, it is revealed Ethan has multiple herniated lumbar disks. The new diagnosis sets him back a few months of recovery. So, it seems Ethan won’t be able to go back to work anytime soon. Toward the end of the episode, he told Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) that he would have multi-level spinal fusion surgery. The rehabilitation for the surgery will take at least two months. 

Is Ethan Choi leaving ‘Chicago Med?’

While Ethan Choi recovers from the surgery, many fans want to know when he’ll return. Well, it seems viewers might be in for a long wait. According to TVLine, Chicago Med showrunner Diane Frolov revealed Ethan will not come back “until several episodes down the line.” It appears Brian Tee, who plays Ethan on the show, has been cast in Amazon’s Expats. So, it looked like fans would see less of Ethan. Since there’s no news of Tee leaving the show, it’s safe to say that he will come back eventually. 

Chicago Med airs Wednesday at 8/7c on NBC.