This question may contain SPOILERS, so if you did not watch ER on Feb. 19, please read with caution.

What is the back story on Dr. John Carter (Noah Wylie) ?
Did he have a son?

And can someone explain the ending to me?

Many thanks!

Carter had a little boy with Kem, who died when she miscarried. The ending is left open to interpretation at the moment. Carter was hooked up to what looked like a dialysis machine to me. Others have said it looked like a chemo machine, but I don't think it is. Back in the day, Carter Lost a kidney when a schizo patient attacked him and Lucy, resulting in Lucy's death. Carter now only has one kidney. So it could mean that he has hepatitis, etc, resulting in dialysis and possibly a need for a kidney transplant. Could be that he has contracted HIV/AIDS. I personally think it's a kidney thing, but I could be way wrong. I do hope they don't plan on killing off Carter, though that would be a good way for them to squeeze in Benton, Lewis, Abby, Ross and Hathaway's return, as in a funeral. I personally would prefer to see the show end with Carter as chief of the ER. To me, that would be a great end to this show.

I'm sorry, I meant to stay that Carter's baby was stillborn. And on thinking further, Carter may not have Lost a kidney. I seem to have this nagging thought in the back of my head (be quiet voices!) that Benton was going to remove it but Anspaugh told him not to, that they could save it. Think I may need to look that up,lol.

I thought it was a dialysis machine as well.

I had forgotten about the stabbing and am not sure about the kidney. I too was thinking aids or some sort of African virus.

I hope everything is ok with his wife.

I didn't catch that Carter was hooked up to some kind of machine...I just thought that for whatever reason he was staying at the hospital (which wouldn't make much sense)! I wonder if he and Kem are having marital troubles since he was evasive in his answers (she's fine...in Paris visiting her mom). Thought Jerry was hysterical after he took the love potion...commenting on Carter's butt in his jeans & telling him to call him!

I liked the conversation that Lucy had with Dr. Banfield...I think that Banfield & her husband will end up going the adoption route...

It's been a really good season!

It has been a good season...Angela Basset has also been a great addition and talent...

I thought it was a dialysis machine he was hooked up to...I was thinking maybe I forgot about something but now I remember the attack...it probably has something to do with that.

Yep, it was a dialysis machine, and Carter did lose a kidney back in the stabbing.

I don't remember him and Kem ever getting married? I remember him asking but after the baby died I thought things were still unsure between them when he left? Maybe I just don't remember, but I do get the feeling there is something wrong between the two of them. I also agree that it was a dialysis machine and I'm thinking he has gotten something while away in Africa.

I didn't even think of them killing him off. But it would be a way to get others back there (as someone else said.) Jerry had me laughing so hard at the end "call me"...LOL I have to admit that I thought this season would stink but it's been really good. Better then it's been in the last couple seasons.

When I was watching last night, I was wondering if they (Banfields) might adopt the little girl who was perhaps/maybe being molested by her foster father. But I guess there wasn't much interaction between Banfield and the girl.

I thought the same the week before. There was also a little boy several weeks ago, whose parents were dead and his older brother was selling drugs to support them, but he got shot and went to jail. I was sure they'd adopt him, too.