"The Human Shield" is the seventh episode of the twelfth season of ER. It first aired on NBC on November 10, 2005. It was written by R. Scott Gemill and directed by series star Laura Innes. It has Abby Lockhart caught in the middle of a clash of wills between Drs. Luka Kovač and Victor Clemente over a treatment for a 10-year-old kidnapped victim. It was the first appearance of John Stamos as Tony Gates.