Trauma Center: Second Opinion follows the story of Dr. Derek Stiles, a newly qualified surgeon at Hope Hospital in 2018. After completing his residency, he is faced with a series of routine surgeries to get settled into his new role. However, it soon becomes apparent that Dr. Stiles has a rare ability known as the "healing touch", which allows him to slow down time during surgery, increasing accuracy and speed. This newfound skill is put to the test as a deadly disease begins to spread.