The series premiere "24 Hours" sees Dr. Greene considering a move into private practice at the request of his wife, Jen.

The episode also sees an attempted suicide from staff nurse Carol Hathaway, who had previously been in a long-term relationship with Doug Ross, as well as the first day for medical student John Carter.

Originally, Carol Hathaway died by suicide, but her death in the pilot was never shown or referred to by other characters, leaving her open for a return.

Audiences responded so well to her character that producers decided to offer Julianna Margulies a permanent spot in the cast.

At work, he experiences problems, after making a fatal error in the treatment of a pregnant woman in the Emmy-winning episode "Love's Labor Lost."

Meanwhile, a lovelorn Ross struggles to come to terms with the fact that a recovered Hathaway is moving on with her life while Dr. Lewis tries to cope with her rebellious sister, Chloe, who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a daughter at the end of the season.

Carter comes to grips with the fast-paced life of an ER doctor, while trying to win the approval of his demanding supervising resident, Dr. Peter Benton.

Crichton, Wells, and Spence-Rosato continued these roles for the series proper while Murphy was replaced as producer by Christopher Chulack.

Also joining the production team were Mimi Leder, Robert Nathan, and Lydia Woodward as supervising producers and Paul Manning as Co-producer.

Medical specialist and technical advisor Lance Gentile made his television writing debut in the first season.

John Carter, a third-year medical student, begins the first day of his rotation in the ER at County General Hospital.

The head nurse, Carol Hathaway, returns several hours after her shift as a patient, overdosing in an apparent suicide attempt.

Eric Mink concluded that ER may rate more highly in the Nielsens but Chicago Hope told better stories,[59] while Rich felt both shows were "riveting, superior TV fare.