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← Older revision		Revision as of 14:51, 7 August 2025
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	{{Infobox television episode		{{Infobox television episode
	\| title = By Their Faith		\| title = By Their Faith
	\| titlecard = ~~Quincy_S6_Ep7_Titlecard~~.png		\| titlecard = Quincy_ByTheirFaith_titlecard.png
	\| series = Quincy, M.E.		\| series = Quincy, M.E.
	\| season = 6		\| season = 6
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	== Episode Overview ==		== Episode Overview ==
	''[[By Their Faith (Quincy, M.E.)\|By Their Faith]]'' aired on [[NBC]] on January 7, 1981, as the seventh episode of Season 6. Dr. Quincy and Sam are sent to San Ramos, Mexico, where a young girl is believed to heal the sick by channeling the powers of a saint’s buried bones. But when a boy dies after one such visit, Quincy must determine if science—or faith—is behind the phenomenon.		''[[By Their Faith (Quincy, M.E.)\|By Their Faith]]'' aired on [[NBC]] on January 7, 1981, as the seventh episode of Season 6. Dr. Quincy and Sam are sent to San Ramos, Mexico, where a young girl is believed to heal the sick by channeling the powers of a saint’s buried bones. But when a boy dies after one such visit, Quincy must determine if science—or faith—is behind the phenomenon.
			__TOC__
	== Application of The QME Episode Laws ==		== Application of The QME Episode Laws ==
	✅ Law 1: Uncover truth and justice		✅ Law 1: Uncover truth and justice

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Created page with "{{Infobox television episode | title = By Their Faith | titlecard = Quincy_S6_Ep7_Titlecard.png | series = Quincy, M.E. | season = 6 | episode = 7 | airdate = January 7, 1981 | airtime = 60 minutes | runtime = approx. 51 minutes without commercials | production_number = 60607 | writer = Story & Teleplay: Erich Collier | director = Ron Satlof | music_by..."

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{{Infobox television episode
| title = By Their Faith
| titlecard = Quincy_S6_Ep7_Titlecard.png
| series = Quincy, M.E.
| season = 6
| episode = 7
| airdate = January 7, 1981
| airtime = 60 minutes
| runtime = approx. 51 minutes without commercials
| production_number = 60607
| writer = Story & Teleplay: Erich Collier
| director = Ron Satlof
| music_by = Stu Phillips
| guest_star = René Enríquez, Gino Conforti, Ian Abercrombie, Joaquín Martínez, Jeff Pomerantz, Jean Gilpin
| victim = Faith healer's assistant (deceased)
| autopsy_findings = Heavy-metal poisoning; misattributed cause
| prev = [[Welcome to Paradise Palms (Quincy, M.E.)|Welcome to Paradise Palms]]
| next = [[Stain of Guilt (Quincy, M.E.)|Stain of Guilt]]
| network = [[NBC]]
| production_company = Universal Television / MCA
}}

<div style="text-align:center; margin-top:10px;">
[[File:Quincy_S6_Ep7_Titlecard.png|480px|center|thumb|alt=Title card for Quincy, M.E. episode "By Their Faith"|Screencap from ''By Their Faith'']]
</div>

== Episode Quote ==
'''"Faith can heal many things—but science must still determine who and how we truly help."'''
~ '''Dr. Quincy''', in ''[[By Their Faith (Quincy, M.E.)|By Their Faith]]''

== Episode Overview ==
''[[By Their Faith (Quincy, M.E.)|By Their Faith]]'' aired on [[NBC]] on **January 7, 1981**, as the seventh episode of Season 6. Dr. Quincy and Sam are sent to San Ramos, Mexico, where a young girl is believed to heal the sick by channeling the powers of a saint’s buried bones. But when a boy dies after one such visit, Quincy must determine if science—or faith—is behind the phenomenon.

== Application of The QME Episode Laws ==
✅ **Law 1: Uncover truth and justice**
Quincy investigates the death using toxicology, rejecting superstition in favor of scientific fact.

✅ **Law 2: Explore social and ethical issues**
The episode examines blind belief in miracles, contrasting it with the need for medical accountability and media ethics.

✅ **Law 3: Handle complex topics with sensitivity**
While the story critiques unproven faith healing, it respectfully portrays the villagers' beliefs and their need for hope.

✅ **Law 4: Demonstrate scientific accuracy**
Quincy’s radiocarbon dating of bones and toxic soil analysis ground the episode firmly in real forensic science.

== Episode Synopsis ==
A young girl is hailed as a faith healer in San Ramos after she leads people to a cave containing what are believed to be the bones of a saint. When a boy dies after receiving her "healing," the archbishop calls Quincy for an objective autopsy. Quincy and Sam travel to the site and begin to suspect that the so-called miracles may be the result of natural—or dangerous—causes. They discover toxic heavy metals in the cave soil, likely absorbed through skin contact, explaining the illnesses and deaths. Quincy urges the church to shut down the site and redirect followers toward proper medical treatment. Meanwhile, he challenges a tabloid journalist for spreading misinformation that endangered lives.

== Main Cast ==
* '''Jack Klugman''' as Dr. R. Quincy
* '''Robert Ito''' as Sam Fujiyama
* '''John S. Ragin''' as Dr. Robert Asten
* '''Val Bisoglio''' as Danny Tovo
* '''Garry Walberg''' as Lt. Frank Monahan
* '''Joseph Roman''' as Sgt. Brill

== Guest Cast ==
* '''René Enríquez'''
* '''Gino Conforti'''
* '''Ian Abercrombie'''
* '''Joaquín Martínez'''
* '''Jeff Pomerantz'''
* '''Jean Gilpin'''

== Case File Summary ==
'''Victim:''' Male patient (minor), deceased after cave visit
'''Cause of Death:''' Heavy-metal toxicity from cave environment
'''Scientific Evidence:''' Autopsy, toxicology screen, radiocarbon dating of skeletal remains
'''Outcome:''' Shrine closed, media accountability emphasized

== Forensic Science Insight ==
* **Toxicology** identified dangerous levels of lead and arsenic in the cave environment.
* **Radiocarbon dating** proved the “saintly” bones were centuries old but not miraculous.
* **Environmental forensic analysis** showed geological contamination as the source of the “miraculous” effect.

== Themes & Tropes ==
* **Science vs. Faith** – balancing religious belief with scientific evidence
* **Journalistic Ethics** – dangers of sensationalism in life-or-death situations
* **Cultural Sensitivity** – respect for tradition while protecting public health
* **Forensic Pathology as Justice** – science uncovers truth even in sacred places

== Reception & Ratings ==
Though not widely reviewed, ''By Their Faith'' is often remembered for its unique blend of science and spiritual inquiry. It’s praised by Quincy fans for addressing difficult issues with intelligence and empathy.
* IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 ([IMDb – By Their Faith](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0681760/))
* Rotten Tomatoes: Listed under Season 6, praised for unique subject matter ([Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/quincy_m_e_/s06/e07))

== Trivia ==
* One of the few Quincy episodes shot partially on location outside Los Angeles.
* The use of radiocarbon dating was among the most scientifically advanced topics depicted in the series at the time.
* This episode’s moral message was cited in medical ethics discussions at UCLA in the early 1980s.

== Cultural Impact ==
''By Their Faith'' marked a rare network TV attempt in the early '80s to merge themes of religion, folklore, and forensic medicine. It exemplifies how *Quincy, M.E.* tackled public misconceptions and offered scientifically grounded, socially responsible storytelling.

== Episode Navigation ==
← [[Welcome to Paradise Palms (Quincy, M.E.)|Welcome to Paradise Palms]] • '''By Their Faith''' • [[Stain of Guilt (Quincy, M.E.)|Stain of Guilt]]
''Season 6 Overview:'' [[Quincy, M.E. (season 6)|Full Episode List]]

== See Also ==
* [[Quincy, M.E.]]
* [[List of Quincy, M.E. episodes]]
* [[Faith healing]]
* [[Toxicology]]
* [[Radiocarbon dating]]
* [[NBC]]

== External Links ==
* [IMDb – ''By Their Faith''](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0681760/)
* [Rotten Tomatoes – Season 6, Episode 7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/quincy_m_e_/s06/e07)
* [Quincy Examiner Fan Wiki](https://quincyexaminer.com/wiki)

By Their Faith (Quincy, M.E.) - Revision history

Admin at 18:51, 7 August 2025