All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.S15E06.Cut.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

In the criminal justice system,

the people are represented

by two separate,
yet equally important groups:

The police,
who investigate crime

and the district attorneys
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

Housekeeping. Hello?

Hello?

Housekeeping. Hello?

Miss?

Oh, my God!

Nora Hackett,
checked in yesterday.

Where's she from?

Park Avenue.

Sounds like a little
"afternoon delight."

Did you interview
the other guests?

Yeah. Nothin' so far.

What about cash
or valuables?

Nice watch on the table.

500 bucks in her purse.
Credit cards.

So we can rule out
a robbery.

She ordered room service.

Tea for two.
So she definitely had company.

You dustin' all this,
right?

Wow. Somebody work her over?

I'm not so sure.

What are those bruises?

Liposuction.
Maybe a tummy tuck.

Fresh incision staples.

I'd say withn
the last 24 hour.

Give me the South Beach Diet
any day.

You got a time of death?

Ballpark? Between 6:00
and 9:00 last night,

roughly.

Is there anything that says
this is a homicide?

Petechial hemorrhaging could be
indicative of strangulation.

And I think her skull's
fractured.

What do you say
we're lookin' at here?

It's an accident.

She's sick, doped up,
passes out, hits her head.

Well, she had
surgery yesterday,

so this could be some
post-op complications.

I'm sorry, I can't rue

anything
in or out yet.

Including homicide.

Demerol.

She coulda been woozy
from these.

She left her cell phone on.

Maybe she was
expecting a call.

I'm calling
the last number she did.

It's busy.

She called this number
a couple times yesterday.

What's the number
on that bottle?

It's the same number.
Dr. A. Lawrence.

Must be his office.

Hey, what do you think
we talk to room service?

Excuse me.

I want all the numbers
in this cell phone run.

Calls made, received,

and numbers
in the phone book too. Okay?

And send these
to the crime lab.
Got it.

Uh, excuse me?

You have any idea
when you'll be done in here?

The hotel is fully committed.

This is a crime scene.

It says so right there
on the tape.
Yes.

But that doesn't tell me
when I get the room back.

Can I see you
just for a second?

It's gonna take
however long it takes,

do you understand me?

And if you get in our way
or don't cooperate with us,

we're gonna turn
this whole hotel

into a crime scene.

And that's gonna be
really bad for business.

Now, excuse us.

What time did you
take the tea to her room?

Around 4:30,
quarter of 5:00.

And who was she with?

Nobody then.

When I came back
for the tray,

I heard someone else
in the room.

Well, the tray
is still in her room.

How come you never
picked it up?

Well, they were arguing,
so I just left.

Miss Hackett
and a man with an accent.

An accent?

Yeah, you know...

kind of snooty.

Snooty?

Yeah, you know, snooty.

High falutin'.

He was shouting.

What were they
fighting about?

I got to the door.
I heard angry voices.

I just walked away.

What time was that?

Around 6:00.

Yeah...

Miss Hackett was preregistered
for early check-in.

She stopped by the desk
around 1:00 to pick up the key.

I checked her in myself.

Was she alone?

She was with
a young woman.

I didn't catch her name.

Did you catch
her description?

I'm afraid not.

I was totally focused
on Miss Hackett.

Do you have video surveillance
in the lobby?

Miss Hackett came in
through the VIP entrance

at the rear of the hotel
which has no surveillance.

Why no?

The VIP entrance
is for our preferred customers.

People who require
a modicum of privacy.

And why would Miss Hackett
be considered a VIP?

She was referred
by Dr. Lawrence.

We accord all his patients
preferential treatment.

Yeah, there were
no complications.

Miss Hackett spent
several hours in post-op,

and she was released
around 1:00.

Yeah, all very routine.

Oh. Angie, could you please
check on Mrs. Helliman,

tell her I'll be
right in.

Your phone number was
on Miss Hackett's cell phone.

Uh...

Well, I ask all my patients
to check in with me

after surgery.

What did she say?

That she was doing fine.

There were
no problems?
None at all.

She called you
a couple times.

Nora was a worrier,

but she was fine.

I don't know what
could have happened.

They're putting her
under now, doctor.

Uh...I'm sorry, gentlemen,
I have an eye lift waiting.

Let me know if there's anything
else I can help you with.

I'm so sorry
about Nora.

So are you a Cubs fan
or a White Sox fan?

How'd you know?

You're kidding me, right?

You sound just like
my cousin Rose.

Cubs, of course.
Me, too.

What neighborhood you from?
The Patch.

I'm from Little Sicily.
I went to St. Michael's.

No, kidding. My little brother
went to St. Mike's.

What's your last name?
Gusmarino.

Are you related
to Nick Gusmarino?

He's my uncle.

I'll be damned.
It's a small world, isn't it?

Yeah.
Well.

It's a shame
about Miss Hackett.

Yeah.
I can't believe it.

You know, Angela,
we have to get in touch

with her next of kin.

Would you happen
to have, uh,

an emergency contact number
in her file?

I should.
Let me check.

Her sister, Darlene Hackett,
lives in Connecticut.

Who picked up Miss Hackett
after surgery?

Her assistant.

You need her name
and number, too?

Miss King seemed all right
when I left her at the hotel.

A little shaky.

Oh, my God.
I'm sorry.

This is just
so bizarre.

So sudden.

You said Miss King.
I thought her name was Hackett.

Hackett is her real name.

Everybody knows her
as Corinne King.

Oh, was she an actress
or somethin'?

She's a novelis.

She writes thrillers.

Her last one,
Gentlemen of Evil,

was on the best-seller
list for 39 weeks.

We were tryin' to contact
her sister.

Do you know if she has any other
family we can talk to?

A husband, a boyfriend maybe?

She was divorced.
And she didn't date.

Her ex didn't happen
to have an accent, did he?

She didn't really
talk about her ex.

They weren't
on friendly terms?

No terms at all
as far as I know.

She told me when she turned 40,

he left her
for his Yoga instructor.

I guess it left
kind of a bitter taste.

My, God, she was young,
relatively.

53, 54...
what happened?

When was the last time
you saw her?

Well, I bumped into her
at a restaurant last year.

She pretended
not to see us.
Us?

Uh, me and my wife Heather.

There you are.

Hi, Sweetie.
Hi.

Sorry, I didn't know
you had company.

That's all right. These
gentlemen are from the police.

About Nora.
Right.
Nice to meet you.

Hi.
All right.
Goin' in.

Heather and I were
in Newport with friends.

We got back
around 10:00 p.m.

Your ex-wife

have any enemies?

Anyone want to hurt her?

Uh, other jealous
lady novelists?

Was she successful?

Oh, hugely.

Sold millions.
Airport trade.

Unreadable in my opinion,
but...

apparently,
most people liked it.

You and Miss Hackett
have any children?

No.
Why do you ask?

Who inherits her money?

Not me, if that's
what you're thinking.

She'd rather give it
to the ASPCA.

Her sister, I suppose.

It's the only family
she has left.

We're looking o

talk to a man with a,
uh, snooty accent.

He was in the room
with your wife.

That could be her agent.

I think the guy's
from Cape Town originally.

South African.

That can be snooty.

When her husband dumped her

for a younger, thinner blonde,

Nora decided to chuck it all
and began writing.

And you became her agent?

Well, I admird

her moxie.

She took a humiliating act
of betrayal,

and turned it
into a best-selling novel

of revenge
and retribution.

Sounds great.
I'll have to pick up a copy.

You called her yesterday
afternoon around 3:00?

Mm.

I dropped by
at the hotel to...

keep her company.
We have

a witness
that overheard

the two of you arguing.

Well, Nora and I were like
an old married couple.

We often had...

creative differences.

Oh yeah?

What were your
"creative differences"

with her yesterday?

The direction
of her new book.

I thought it was
too dark.

She disagreed.

Hmm.

What time did you
leave the hotel?

Around 6:00.

I had a meeting with a publisher
across town at 6:30.

Are you in her will?

Goodness, no.

Not that I need be.

All of her books are
still in print.

I'm sure her sister inherits.

Have you talked
to Darlene?

We've been trying
to reach her.
Well, she's in town.

My assistant spoke to her
an hour ago

about the memorial service.

Oh, my God.

You don't think somebody--

Miss Hackett,

we look
into all possibilities.

So why was she staying
at the Renfield?

Why didn't she
just go home?

That's where
she always stayed

after these
little procedures.

Well, they took such good care
of her there.

And it was so close
to Dr. Lawrence's office.

So she'd gone to see
Dr. Lawrence before, then?

A number of times.

The last one was, uh...

about a year ago.

I was praying
it was the last.

Nora was chasing some impossible
ideal of female beauty.

Flawless face,
perfect hair,

a younger body,
the latest clothes.

Anything to hide
the fact that she was 54.

Do you know why she went in
for the latest operation?

She just signed
a big, new publishing deal.

We hear that she was
really successful.

Extremely s.

Who inherits
her money?

I do.

Probably.

Miss Hackett, we know
that your sister had

a visitor at the hotel.

Clive Raymond.

That creep?

You think Clive
might be involved

in Nora's death somehow?
Do you?

Well, it's hard to see
how he'd profit.

Though I'm sure
he would if he could.

Well, he was
her agent, right?

Her ex-agent.

She dropped him
a few months ago.

Well, he forgot
to mention that.

Clive was desperately

trying to get Nora
to come back to him.

Losing a big client
like her

must've hurt.
There's a lot

of money at stake.

How do you know that?

How do I know?

The lawyers are involved.

Nora was
a shrewd businesswoman.

We hear she just got
a new publishing deal.

Her biggest one yet.

A five book deal.

Which she negotiated herself,
thank you very much.

So without the help
of her agent.

Clive?
She didn't need him anymore.

Yeah, we hear they had
a falling out.

Now, that's way
too polite.

She fired him.
Before the new deal?

That's our position.

He sees it differently.

When the publishing

company started sending

the advance checks to us
instead of to Clive,

he threatened to sue.

How much money
are we talking about?

10% of 25 million.

Nora was alive and well

when I left her
in that hotel room.

To think
that I would hurt her...

It's beyond the pale.

You did forget

to mention
that she fired you.

That's what that little
argument was about,

wasn't it, Clive?

I was angry, yes.

Well, I put her
on the map.

And she kicks me
to the curb

like a stray dog.

Where's the loyalty?

So you put her
on the map.

Ask anyone.

And then she dumped you.

That must've pissed you off.

Look.

I went there as a friend.

To hold her hand.
Talk to her.

Convince her
that she had made a mistake.

By roughing her up?
No.

No!

Look, I came all
the way down here

of my own volition
to clear up this little matter

and remove the dark cloud
over my good name.

Now, can't you give me
a lie detector test

or a truth serum
or something?

Detectives,
M.E. just called.

Needs to talk to you
right away.

You just make yoursef

at home, Clive.

From the looks
of the report,

our victim died from
a fatal drug interaction.

From the Demerol?

Yeah, mixed with Nardil.

It's an M.A.O. inhibitor.

Anti-depressant.

Like Prozac?

Yeah, same effect.

Different chemical makeup.

M.A.O. inhibitors can cause
severe reactions

when combined
with other drugs.

And Nardil stays
in the system.

She really shoulda
discontinued taking it

at least ten days
prior to surgery.

And her doctor, he should've
known all of this?

Well, I assume
she woulda told him.

Now, if she didn't,
for some reason,

and he didn't know
that she was taking Nardil,

her death is
a therapeutic complication.

And if he did know?

If he knew
and gave her Demerol anyway,

I would be inclined
to call it

criminally negligent
homicide.

la?

We thought you might need
a little boost.

Grazie.
Prego.

Angela.

We were wonderin'
if you can do us a small favor.

Depends.

We're just tyin' up
the Nora Hackett case.

And there's somethin'
we'd like to check

in her medical file.

We're really not supposed

to give that information
to anyone.

It would be just
a quick peek,

and besides that,
we're authorized.

Well, I guess
that would be okay.

Here we go.

What do you need to know?

If she was taking
any medication

when she came
in for surgery.

Yeah, that would be
on the intake form...

Well, that's funny.
What?

Here it is right on top.

You sound surprised.
Where's it supposed to be?

On the bottom.

The forms are all filed

in reverse
chronological order.

Angie, I-I need
Dr. Stein's, uh--

Detectives.

Here for a consultation?

Does it look like we need
makeovers, Doctor?

What's going on here?

Angela?

What are you doing
with this?

Well, we just asked her
to double check

some information in Miss
Hackett's file is all.

Didn't they teach you
at the academy

that medical files
are confidential?

They also taught us hw
to get a subpoen.

I'm sorry.

They're the police.

They said they
were authorized.

I guess it can't
do any harm.

She wrote N/A.

Not applicable.

What's this about,
anyway?
Did Miss Hackett

ever mention
that she was taking Nardil?

Nardil?

Absolutely not.
Why?

The medical examinr

says her death is due to
a lethal interaction of drugs.

Nardil and Demerol.

Oh, my God.

I-I never would've given her
Demerol had I known.

Her internist's
name is here.

Do you have his number?

Yeah.
Yeah, of course.

Demerol?
I don't understand.

Any first-year intern

would know not
to prescribe Demerol

if a patient
were taking Nardil.

There was no mention
of Nardil

on her surgical
intake form.

Well, that surprises m.

Nora was very careful.

She knew Nardil, like other
anti-depressants

could be lethal in combination
with certain drugs.

Doctor, when did you
prescribe it for her?

Well, like a lt

of creative people,

Nora experienced problems
with depression

on and off,

over the years.

I put her on Nardil
six months ago.

Trust m,
she was well awae

of the potentially dangerous
interactions

with other drugs.

So between her last plastic
surgery with Dr. Lawrence

and this one, her internist put
her on this anti-depressant?

And he explained
all the risks.

Yeah, but Dr. Lawrence

wouldn't have
necessarily known,

so she should've
told him.

How are we
gonna prove that?

But if she was
aware of the risk,

how come she didn't put

she was taking Nardil
on the intake form?

Well, maybe she did.

Do you remember that doctor
at City Hospital

a few years back?

There was a woman
who went into labor

on the sidewalk--
Oh, right.

He refused to admit her

and then he changed
the records to cover it up.

So you're thinking

that Dr. Lawrence
altered his records?

Well, he has
a damn good motive.

I'm gonna call
the D.A.'s office

and see if we have enough
for a subpoena.

Can I help you?

Where's Angela?

Family emergency.

Uh, when will she be back?

When they hired me,
they said she wouldn't.

Can I help you?

Yeah, we need to speak
to Dr. Lawrence.

I'm sorry.
He's in surgery.

What's this?

Some reading material
for the doctor.

Reading material?

Yeah, it's a subpoena

for Nora Hackett's
medical records.

When I put the document

under the stereo microscope,

the first thing that I noticed

was that the fibers following
the letters N and A

were disturbed.

Disturbed?
By what?

A pen.

They were also lifted

by an eraser.

Man, say it simple.

Somethin' was erased
and then written over?

Take a look.

Now, I'll manipulate the
image so we can see

the striations
of what was erased.

Well, I'll be damned.

Nardil.

So, unless someone
actually saw

Dr. Lawrence
altering the form--

Well, there was a receptionist
who was very helpful.

All of a sudden,
she's in the wind.

Family emergency.

Timing's kind of coincidental,
isn't it?

Exactly.
You got an address?

Yeah, Dyckman Marina.

Well, go rock a boat.

See what she knows.

Angela around?

She's not here.

Uh, I'm Detective Fontana.

This is Detective Green,

New York City
Police Department.

How you doin', man?

We hear that Angela had some
sort of family emergency?

That's just Angie's way
of saying, "I quit."

She doesn't like
confrontation.

A confrontation
with who?

Her boss, maybe?
Dr. Lawrence?

I think you better talk
to Angie about that.

Well, that's
why we're here, man.

Do you know
where we can find her?

She went
to Chicago yesterday.

Do you have a number?

No, and...

I don't really know
where she's staying.

She's crashing with friends.

Here's my card.

You hear from her,
you tell her to call me

any time day
or night, okay?

It's very important.

Very important.
Okay.

Thanks.

So what
do you wanna do?

Well, I'll give her uncle Nick
a call. He owes me one.

You really know her uncle?

Yeah, why, did you think
I was puttin' her on?
You? Yeah.

I can guarantee ya
this time tomorrow,

we'll be meetin' her
at La Guardia.

I just...

got tired of the place.

People.
Attitude. Egos.

Rich ladies getting their boobs
and noses done, you know?

They treat you like something
they stepped in.

It gets old
after a while.

Uh, listen, Angela,

the reason we reached out
to your uncle Nick

to get you back here
from Chicago...

Yeah.

We know
that Dr. Lawrence

altered Nora Hackett's
intake form.

You do?
Yep.

We had it analyzed
by experts.

We can prove it scientifically.
In court.

I don't know anything
about that, honest.

Forgive me for saying this,
Angela, but...

we think that you do.

And we think you feel
bad about it

and that's why you left.

Look, Angela,

I'm sorry I got you
into this.

I didn't mean
to middle you.

Middle me?

Well, you know,
put you between

a rock and a hard place,
jam you up.

Why would I be jammed up?
I didn't do anything.

We believe that,
but if you know all this stuff,

and you don't say anything,

it could all come back
on you.

And we don't want
to see you take a fall

for a quack
like Dr. Lawrence.

I didn't actually
see him do it.

But, yeah.

When I went back and looked
at the form later,

I pretty much knew.

And it's not jut
the form, oka?

Miss Hackett calld

twice after her surgery,

said she wasn't
feeling well.

Said she was
tired and dizzy.

Did you tell
Dr. Lawrence that?

I did.
Absolutely.

I put her on hold
and I told him.

He said he was busy.
He'd get back to her later.

But he never did.
He never called her back.

didn't return her call
after he left the office?

The police checked
all of the records.

He made no calls
to Nora Hackett's cell phone

or her hotel room
that night.

The M.E. said that there's
an excellent chance

the death could've
been avoided

if she'd been found
in time.

Then he might well be held
liable in a civil suit.

The M.E. thinks
there's a case to be made

for criminally negligent
homicide.

It's a very gray area.

Cosmetic surgery.

It's an epidemic
in this country.

Whatever happened
to aging gracefully.

Ha.

Only a man would say
that without a trace of irony.

Men age gracefully, Arthur.
Women just age.

That was actually one
of Corrine King's main themes.

Didn't know thrillers
were your thing, Serena.

Well, I need some excitement
in my life.

Realistically, the only
criminal charge we can leverage

against Dr. Lawrence is
falsifying business records.

So what do you propose?

Step asid.

Let her estae

file a civil
malpractice suit.

Let them sort it out
that way.

Talk about pusillanimous,
to use your word.

Dr. Lawrence prescribed Noa
Hackett a lethl

drug combination,
which she should've known.

Then he turned
his back on her

when she called
for help and then,

he tried
to cover it up.

No one's saying
he didn't screw up.

Well, I'll tell you what.

If we find out that this was
a one-time slip up,

I'll be happy to leave it to the
family to take him to court.

But if we find a pattern
of recklessness

and negligence...

We'll look
into Lawrence's practice.

I already did some digging

It turns out he had

a partnership with
a doctor at one time.

Good.

If you're looking for dirt,

ex-partner's even better
than an ex-wife.

Let's just say Alvin Lawrence
and I had different styles

when it came to running
a practice.

I didn't see a surgical wing
in your office.

Don't have one.

I prefer to do major procedures
in the hospital.

Too many patients end up needing
emergency post-op care.

Yours or Dr. Lawrence's?

It's all the same
to the insurance company.

Between the skyrocketing
malpractice rates

and his recklessness...

I didn't need the stress.

He's not a good surgeon?

In some ways,

he's a great surgeon.

But he takes huge risks.

Operates on patients
he shouldn't.

So, naturally,
he has a higher rate

of post-op complications
and failures.

Not to mention lawsuits

and higher premiums
for malpractice insurance.

So what about Nora Hackett?

She came to me first,

wanted what would've been

her fifth or sixth
cosmetic surgery.

Did you agree to it?
I told her

to take a break.

Take some time
to think it over.

I even advised her
to see a therapist.

Wh?

Standard practice,
as far as I'm concerned.

If a patient has had
a number of surgeries,

I won't operate
on them unless they have

a psych consult first.

Did she?

Wouldn't dream of it.

She went straight
to Alvin.

He had no problem
accommodating her.

Why turn away a patient?

Cosmetic surgery
can't heal all wounds.

You have to understand its
limitations and dangers.

It's not a cure-all.

Here we go, Doctors
Barton and Lawrence.

We dropped them
a few years back.

Seems like you made quite
a bit of money

from them before you did.

Well, the premium increases
don't tell the whole story.

We paid out a lot more
than we ever took in.

Lawsuits.

Half a dozen.

Dr. Lawrence?

The suits were against
the clinic as a whole.

Yeah, Lawrence was named
the offender.

It's a matter
of public record.

I assume the suits
were settled.
They were.

Last straw
for us was when

a patient went in
for a chin tuck.

And ended up
with facial paralysis.

When I was in my late 30s,

I began to notice that men
didn't look at me

on the street anymore.

It was like I suddenly
became invisible.

You know what I mean?

Of course, you don't.

Stupid question.

Anyway, it was
then I decided

to have my first surgery.

Liposuction.

I felt like a new person.

Miss Belmar,

can you tell me about your
experience with Dr. Lawrence?

I thought it was going
to be a simple chin tuck, but...

when I woke up

from the anesthesia,

the entire left side

of my body
felt like lead.

I could hardly
lift my arm.

They said...

I'd had a stroke.

What happened?

During
the pre-op consultation,

I told Dr. Lawrence

I had myasthenia gravis.

It's a neurological disease
another doctor

told me could cause
complications

with sedation.

What did Dr. Lawrence say?

He assured me

he'd performed procedures

on patients
with my condition.

And it had never
been a problem.

All he had to do was

monitor my breathing.

But he didn't do that?

When the New York
Health Department investigated,

they found ten violations

in the operating room.

Including
a faulty ventilator.

Did Dr. Lawrence know

that the vent was faulty?

The Health Department
said he did.

I like to tell my patients that
I can make dreams come true.

Well, based on these before
and after pictures,

I'd have to agree
with you.

Well, Ms. Southerlyn,
what can we do for you?

You know, I've actually
changed my mind,

but thank you
for your time.

You know, you know
you have great eyes.

Oh, well,
thank you very much.

And fabulous cheekbones.

Just a beautifully
proportioned face.

Thanks,
I guess I'm right,

I don't need anything done.

Well, there are a few little
things I could touch up.

Here and there.

Oh yeah, like wha?

Well, you have some lines
around your eyes.

Really? I thought that was just
life experience.

Mm.
Perhaps.

Yeah.

A mini brow lift
to help your forehead.

A little collagen
for the lips.

Botox for the area
around your mouth.

Mrs. Benton's coming t.

Uh, how is she?

Cranky.

Well, nothing
a martini or two won't cure.

So how old are you?

I'm 31.

You are here just
in the nick of time.

Really?
I thought I was a little early.

No, when you're younger,

laser resurfacing,

endoscopic facelifts,

and minitucks

are the best ways
to put off

the need for
a full facelift

or an eye tuck until you're
a lot further down the road.

Chamberlain's prepped
and under.
Oh.

I'll be there
in a minute, Francis.

Look, I'm pretty booked up
for the next three months.

So if you're interested,

you might wanna schedule
something today.

Really?

Yeah, and if you want,

you can always come back
for another consultation.

For what?

To talk about augmentation.

Well, think about it.

It's very nice
to meet you.

The question is
in this case,

did he cross the line
from sloppy and overbooked

to criminally negligent
homicide.

Well, I think so.

He was operating more
and more recklessly.

Something like this
was bound to happen.

We have to prove
two things to a jury:

That he caused her death--

Which he clearly did
by prescribing the Demerol.

But was that more
than a mistake?

And we have
to prove that he acted

with criminal negligence,
not civil.

The statue says that
it's criminal negligence

when a person engages
in conduct that carries

a substantial and unjustifiable
risk that death will occur.

If that person fails
to perceive that risk,

and that all of that
constitutes a gross deviation

from a reasonable
standard of care.

Well, I think this absolutely
meets the threshold.

I think it's
a slam dunk civil case.

He's already been sued, Jack.

And apparently,
it didn't get his attention.

Now, the responsibility

for patient care
has gotta rest somewhere,

and I want this office

to serve notice
we're not gonna tolerate

this sort of thing.

It's a matter
of protecting the public.

Dr. Lawrence's
ex-partner said

he wouldn't even operate
on Nora Hackett.

He even advised
that she see a therapist.

Call Dr. Olivet.

Have her take a look
at her files.

And when the police
pick up the good doctor,

I hope the media
is there.

Do the public good to see him
on the 11:00 news.

Oh, what
the hell is this?

Chin up, doctor.

was tampering
with a business document,

and I'm not saying
he did that,

then let him pay
the fine,

and we'll be on our way.

This isn't the Health
Department, Erica.

That document was
a medical record,

signed by his patient.

People die every day

from drug interactions.

Surgery is an inherently
risky undertaking.

Which is why we have
safeguards and standards.

Which Dr. Lawrence ignored
on numerous occasions.

Look, everybody knows
plastic surgery

is a very sexy topic
these days.

This office is just
chasing headlines.

The only thing
we're chasing

is a reckless practitioner

who preyed
on his client's insecurities.

He's a board certified surgeon

who's performed thousands

of successful operations.

One accidental death does not
a crim-neg homicide make.

This was far
from his first misstep.

There were seven lawsuits
filed against him

in the last five years.

Those cases were all settled
out of court.

There are confidentiality
provisions in place.

The witness
that I spoke to

said she had
no such provision connected

to her settlement.

Ann Belmar?

Belmar?

She didn't?

She should've.

And we have
his receptionist.

She'll be testifying
for the people.

Mr. McCoy.

Detective Fontana.
Yeah.

How's it going in there?

We'll see.

I had a conversation
last night

with Angela Gusmarino's uncle.

Yes?

And he heard

a rumor that Angela

and Dr. Lawrence
had an affair.

That the affair ended badly

and that's why Angela's

testifying against him.

Any proof of that?

I talked to some of the women
in the office.

No one knew anything
about it.

But I thought I'd tell you
about it.

In case the defense heard
the same rumor,

you wouldn't get caught
in the switches.

What do you think?

I think Angela Gusmarino

is a straight shooter.

Maybe the defense started

the rumor
and got cold feet.

Could be.

In any case,
I hope you nail

the son of a bitch
to the wall.

Nora called twice
after her surgery.

She was complaining
about not feeling well.

She said she was dizzy.

Did you tell Dr. Lawrence
about these calls?

I put her on hold
both times,

and told Dr. Lawrence
what she was saying.

He said he'd call her back.

And did he?

No.

Did he return any calls
that afternoon or evening?

As he was leaving,

he called LaPergala

to say he was running late.

LaPergal?

The restaurant.

He was having dinner there

before going to a show.

Nothing further.

Ms. Hackett had seen
Dr. Lawrence for surgery before,

hadn't she,
on several occasions?

Yes.

And after eah

one of her
previous surgeries,

did she call him?

Dr. Lawrence asked
all of his patients

to call after surgery.

To check in.

And how many times would they
call, typically?

Once or twice.

What about Miss Hackett?

Two, three times.

Sometimes more.

For what reason?

To complain.

About what?

How she was feeling.

Her stitches
were too tight.

She was groggy,

nauseous,
that kind of thing.

Did she ever complain
about pain?

Sometimes.
Headaches, tenderness.

Did Dr. Lawrence
speak with her?

Usually, yeah.

And in response
to her complaints,

what would Dr. Lawrence
usually prescribe?

Usually...

aspirin
and bedrest.

This was
a more serious surgery,

so he prescribed Demerol.

So she was a complainer.

You could say that.

Is that how you and your
coworkers thought of her?

As a complainer?

We used to say
she was high maintenance.

Did you ever meet the decedent,

Nora Hackett,
a.k.a. Corrine King?

No.

Then what is the basis
of your professional opinion?

The methodology
of case study.

You review the full scope
of her medical records.

You interview family members,
friends, colleagues...

even the doorman.

And were you able
to make a diagnosis?

Based on

all the available data,

it's very likely
that Nora Hackett suffered

from Body Dysmorphic
disorder.

An obsessive preoccupation,

a fixation on
a perceived defect

in one's physical appearance.

Is it an illnes

that only a psychologist
or a psychiatrist

is trained to deal with?
Yes.

But all medical students are
trained to diagnose it,

especially plastic surgeons

because they encounter it

with much more frequency.

And if you have a patient
with symptoms

of Body Dysmorphia?

It's the responsibility
of the surgeon

to insist on
a psychiatric consult

before performing surgery.

According
to the medical records,

did Dr. Lawrence ever,

through all her visits

and all her surgeries,

ever send Nora Hackett

for a psychiatric consult?

No.

Your witness.

"Mirror, mirror
on the wall,

who is the most beautiful
of them all?"

Where to start...

A preoccupation with
a perceived physical defect.

It sounds so mushy.

Isn't it almost too subjective
to diagnose?

Not when the patient
tells everyone

that her biggest problem
is being fat or ugly

and then subjects herself

to frequent and multiple,
major surgeries.

There were moe

than eight million elective
cosmetic surgery

procedures last year
in this country alone.

Are all of those patients
Body Dysmorphic?

Nora Hackett was.

Maybe we all ar.

Is there anyone
in this room

who is satisfied
with the way you look?

You're trivializing
a serious illness.

Aren't yu

infantilizing women

if you take away their choice
to have surgery

by handing that decision
over to a doctor?

Not if the patient suffers
from delusions

that diminish her judgment.

Would you prescribe
diet pills

to someone who suffers
from anorexia

because she thinks
she's fat?

Plastic surgery
is serious business.

So is abortio.

Would you give doctors
the right to require women

to have
a psychiatric consult

before scheduling
an abortion?

Objection.
Relevance.

No.
I'll answer.

If a physician
observes symptoms

of mental illness,

there is
a clear obligation

to try to get
the patient help

before performing
an abortion,

plastic surgery,

or any other
elective procedure.

What if that patient
refuses that help?

Disputes that diagnosis?

Do we forbid her to choose?

Never mind.
It's all academic.

Since you never met
Nora King.

May I?

Please.

Cosmetic surgery,
abortion...

Both legal,
they're both elective,

and they're both
a matter of choice.

You haven't had
any cosmetic work done.

Why are you trying to turn this
into a feminist issue?

Because it is.

Would you be asking a male
defense attorney that question?

I just wonder why
a champion of women's rights

is defending a man
who makes his living

exploiting women's
insecurities.

Elective surgery
isn't something

that should be legislated
through the courtroom, Jack.

I'm not legislating
anything.

I'm just prosecuting
a murder.

You should take a walk
on the Upper East Side, Jack.

Where every third woman
has had something tucked,

pulled, enlarged, or lifted.

And it's not just women.

Spend a little time in
a corporate boardroom these days

and see how many moguls
have gone from

dying their gray hair
to lifting their sagging chins.

No thanks.

You're really convinced
he belongs in jail?

My boss is.

Dr. Lawrence will lose his
license anyway.

And her sister's civil suit
will bankrupt him.

Is that why you
came down here?

To get us to drop
the charges?

Dr. Lawrence

crossed the line.

If he had sent her
to a psychiatrist

instead of operating
on her--

She just would've gone
to another doctor.

He didn't cross
the line, Jack.

He just made a terrible,
terrible mistake.

I'm not some cut-happy

charlatan.

I'm a board certified surgeon
and a member of

the American Society
for Dermatalogic Surgery.

How do you explain what happened
to Ms. Hackett?

It was an accident.

She never told me
that she was taking Nordil.

Would you have prescribed
Demerol had you known?

Of course not.

We heard testimony

that her surgical intake form
was altered.

Yeah, I don't know anything
about that.

You didn't change the form

to cover up your mistake?

No.
I did not.

To save your
lucrative practice?

I don't need the money.

I have more than enough
to retire and live well.

It's been suggested
that you are careless.

Even reckless.

I'm human.

I-I make mistakes.

But to suggest

that I don't care
about my patients--

Nothing could be further
from the truth.

You don't rush
through these procedures?

On the contrary,

what I do is like...

creating sculpture

or designing a garden.

Pruning one rose
at a time.

I feel a deep obligation

to every one
of my patients.

I'm important to them.

They need me.

$10 to $15,000 a procedure,
Dr. Lawrence,

who can afford
to be your patient?

If it were

up to me, cosmetic surgery
would be covered

under health insurance.

It's expensive.
Risky.

The results are worth
the risk.

You look better.

And you live better.

You get the better table
at the restaurant.

The better job.

Even the, uh...

better spouse.

Have you availed yourself

of the benefits
of plastic surgery?

I would if I could be
the doctor holding the scalpel.

When Nora Hackett
first came to you,

wasn't she already
the successful novelist,

Corrine King?

Yeah.
Yes.

And you performed how may
surgeries on he?

Five.

In addition to the five
she'd had previously?

Well, it was her body.

Her choice.

Her choice?

Even if she was suffering

from Body Dysmorphia?

After all those surgerie,

when she requested
this latest one,

why didn't you send her

for a psych consult?

I could do more for her

than any psychologist
or psychiatrist

practicing talk therapy.

By making her prettier?

Which made her happier.

Did i?

Then why was she taking
anti-depressants?

Objection!

Sustained.

Nothing furthe.

Uh, Mr. McCo?

Dr. Lawrence,
what are you doing here?

I wanted to speak
with you, if I may.

This is highly
improper, sir.

I can't talk to you
without your attorney present.

But that's what I wanted to talk
to you about, my attorney.

Ms. Gardner,
what about her?

I-I don't think she's doing an
adequate job representing me.

She's doing a superb job
with a difficult case.

You're lucky to have her.

She made a mistake putting me
on the stand like that.

Now, the jury didn't like me.

I-I could tell.

And then asking me
who altered the records.

Not that I know.

But it made me look--

Why'd she do that?

She had to, to preempt me
asking the question.

But you didn't ask.

The jury knows who doctored
those records!

I can't believe this is
happening to me!

I can't go to jail!

My patients love me.

They wait six months
for an appointment!

Don't you get it?

I change people's lives.

They can't just go
to some other doctor!

I mean,
this is a nightmare!

Of your own making.

You don't get it,
do you?

Goodnight, Dr. Lawrence.

Is there still time to strike
some sort of arrangement?

You could plead guilty.

Have you reached a verdict?

We have.

On the count of
the indictment,

criminally negligent
homicide,

as to the defendant,
Alvin Lawrence,

how do you find?

We find the defendant

guilty.

The jury is dismissed

with the thanks
of the court.

It's a classy felony.
He'll do four years, tops.

For a professional
like Lawrence,

his life is over.

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