The February 10, 2026 episode of Doc on FOX brought back the most controversial doctor at Westside Hospital. Scott Wolf returned as Dr. Richard Miller, the man who caused a patient’s death and tried to cover it up. Many viewers thought he was gone for good. But in Season 2 Episode 15, titled “Trust,” Miller walked back through the hospital doors not with an apology, but with leverage.
Here is exactly how Richard Miller manipulated his way back to full-time employment at Westside, the secret weapon he used against the hospital administration, and why only one person tried to stop him.
The Bargaining Chip Miller Used Against Westside
Richard Miller did not beg for his job back. He did not ask for forgiveness or second chances. Instead, he came prepared with specific, damaging information about the hospital’s recent history .
Miller’s manipulation tactic was simple but effective. He gathered evidence regarding two major incidents of “havoc” that were unleashed at Westside. Both of these disruptive events were tied directly to Dr. Amy Larsen (Molly Parker). By connecting the hospital’s leadership problems to Amy, Miller positioned himself not as a villain, but as someone who was treated unfairly compared to her .
He reminded the board that Amy created what was officially labeled a “hostile environment” during her years as Chief of Internal Medicine—behavior she does not even remember due to her memory loss. Miller argued that if Amy was allowed to return and practice medicine after her own controversies, then he should be allowed back as well. The hospital administration accepted this reasoning .
The Settlement That Forced Westside’s Hand
Behind Miller’s return is a legal agreement that left the hospital with no choice. According to detailed recaps of the episode, Miller reached a settlement with the Dixon family .
The Dixon family is the family of the patient Miller was responsible for. By settling the case, Miller removed the biggest legal obstacle standing between him and his medical license. With the lawsuit resolved, Westside Hospital lost its strongest justification for keeping him off the payroll.
Miller also made it clear that no other hospital in Minneapolis would hire him. His reputation was completely destroyed across the city. This was not a boast—it was a threat. He told the administration that if Westside did not take him back, he would have to uproot his entire family and move cities. He framed his return not as a power grab, but as the only option left for a father trying to keep his family stable .
Michael Hamda’s Failed Protest
The only physician who openly challenged Miller’s reinstatement was Dr. Michael Hamda (Omar Metwally). Michael stood in the boardroom and voiced his objections. He reminded everyone what Miller did. He questioned the message the hospital was sending by allowing a doctor who caused a death to return without any real consequence .
But Michael’s protests changed nothing.
The recap from the episode makes it clear that Michael has “zero capital or sway in that boardroom.” He is described as “ornamental, not functional”—someone who holds a title but carries no real power with the decision-makers. The administration ignored his concerns and approved Miller’s return anyway .
Miller’s Timing Adds Pressure on Joan Ridley
Dr. Joan Ridley (Felicity Huffman) is facing her own crisis right now. TJ Coleman (Patrick Walker) and Dr. Sonya Maitra (Anya Banerjee) have been investigating Joan’s frequent absences. They suspect she is hiding a serious medical condition. In Episode 15, they continued digging into her history and her office files, violating patient privacy protocols to confirm their theories .
Miller’s return adds a dangerous variable to this situation. If Miller finds out about Joan’s secret—whatever it is—he now has leverage over the Chief of Internal Medicine. According to episode analysis, Joan is a “perfectly reasonable person” in most situations. But if she is cornered and faces losing her career, she is prepared to “come out swinging, viciously.” Miller knows how to use secrets as currency .
The Single Condition That Got Miller in the Door
There is one detail that explains why Miller fought so hard to return specifically to Westside. It was not pride or stubbornness. It was family.
The episode reveals that Miller’s family has already been through enough disruption. They are still dealing with their own private struggles. Uprooting his wife and children to another city where he might not find work anyway was not an option he was willing to consider. Being a doctor is all Miller knows. Without medicine, he has no identity. Westside was his only remaining door, and he was prepared to knock it down .
How the Episode Confirmed Miller’s Return
FOX’s official episode description for “Trust” included the line: “Richard returns with a trick up his sleeve.” The spoilers released before the February 10 broadcast confirmed that his return would involve manipulating the facts surrounding Amy’s past behavior at the hospital .
Post-episode recaps from February 11, 2026 verify that Miller is now back at work full-time. His return is not temporary. It is not a consultation or a probationary period. He is officially on staff again, working alongside the very people who spent the last year trying to distance themselves from him .
Why This Matters for the Rest of Season 2
With 22 episodes ordered for the second season, Doc has plenty of room to explore the fallout of this decision . The return of Richard Miller shifts the power dynamics at Westside significantly.
Amy Larsen, who spent the first half of Season 2 trying to prove she belongs at the hospital despite her memory loss, now must work alongside a man who was fired for killing a patient. The irony is not lost on the characters or the viewers.
The show is setting up a direct parallel between Amy and Miller. Both are doctors who made severe mistakes. Both were given second chances. But Amy’s mistakes were largely about her behavior and attitude. Miller’s mistake ended a life. The hospital is now treating these two situations as equal .
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How to Watch Doc Season 2
Doc airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on FOX. Episodes are available for streaming the next day on Hulu .
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the show is available through Disney+ under the Starz content library. Canadian audiences can stream new episodes on Citytv and Amazon Prime Video via the Citytv+ channel. Australian viewers can watch on Channel 7 and 7plus. Indian audiences can stream Doc on Disney+ Hotstar. Global audiences with access to Hulu via VPN services can also watch the day after the US broadcast.
Brian Tee, known for his role as Dr. Ethan Choi on Chicago Med, appeared in this episode as Bobby Ho, a world-class poker player struggling with the “yips.” Gina Walker (Amirah Vann) and Jake Heller (Jon Ecker) worked together to diagnose him, providing some of the lighter moments in an otherwise tension-heavy hour .
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