 At the end of the series, Chris battled a rare disease he was diagnosed with while overseas that resulted in heart failure.He eventually received a heart transplant from donor Reid Oliver in one of the show's final major storylines.The character of Chris Hughes came under some fire during Cosgrove's run because of his character being saved from a heart ailment while his rival Dr. Reid Oliver (Eric Sheffer Stevens) was sacrificed and killed off in the final week of the show.