Ted and Nancy Driscoll's daughter is very sick. But as soon as their maid tries to call the doctor, she's shooed away. She calls on the police and the parents are arrested. The child gets taken to the hospital but dies. This is obviously serious neglect of a child. But here's the problem: because they are religious, convicting them automatically interfers with their religious beliefs.
This is one of those episodes that's really tough to watch since you've got criminals who claim they love someone, and yet they let something so horrible happen. It's not quite as brutal as Aria, but still tough. The guest actors playing the Driscolls are convincing in their roles, and the case is presented in a very complex manner, since that's what it really is. Complex. As much as I understand the importance of freedom of religion, I believe the welfare of a child always goes first. But there are some, thankfully a minority, people who don't think so. It's interesting to see Ben Stone try to balance freedom of religion and the importance of medical care, since even if he as much as suggests that their "spiritual healing" won't do squat, he risks losing the entire case simply on the claim of not respecting their beliefs.
Definitely a very interesting albeit depressing watch. If her parents truly believed that Dinah was a gift from God, then they should have let her live to make themselves and others happier.
This is one of those episodes that's really tough to watch since you've got criminals who claim they love someone, and yet they let something so horrible happen. It's not quite as brutal as Aria, but still tough. The guest actors playing the Driscolls are convincing in their roles, and the case is presented in a very complex manner, since that's what it really is. Complex. As much as I understand the importance of freedom of religion, I believe the welfare of a child always goes first. But there are some, thankfully a minority, people who don't think so. It's interesting to see Ben Stone try to balance freedom of religion and the importance of medical care, since even if he as much as suggests that their "spiritual healing" won't do squat, he risks losing the entire case simply on the claim of not respecting their beliefs.
Definitely a very interesting albeit depressing watch. If her parents truly believed that Dinah was a gift from God, then they should have let her live to make themselves and others happier.