Physician, Heal Thyself (Quincy, M.E.)
| Physician, Heal Thyself | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Episode Quote
"I'm going to see to it that your problem doesn't hurt anybody else again." ~ Dr. R. Quincy, speaking to Dr. Shafer when confronting his suspected negligence and alcoholism:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Episode Overview
Physician, Heal Thyself is the seventeenth episode of Season 3 of Quincy, M.E.. Originally aired on NBC on February 22, 1979, it follows Quincy as he investigates the death of a teenage girl caused by a botched abortion performed by a possibly intoxicated physician, facing institutional resistance in pursuit of accountability.:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Table of Contents
Application of The QME Episode Laws
✅ **Law 1**: Quincy seeks truth and justice for Julie Reed, whose death was incorrectly attributed to natural causes. His autopsy reveals malpractice, and he battles to hold the physician accountable.:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} ✅ **Law 2**: The episode confronts the ethical dilemma of abortion complications and the failure of medical professionals to self-regulate, challenging silenced peers.:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} ✅ **Law 3**: Sensitive portrayal of a young woman’s death following abortion ensures the topic is handled with gravity, not sensationalism.:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} ✅ **Law 4**: Quincy's forensic work—autopsy, hemorrhage analysis, and cross‑interviews—demonstrates scientific thoroughness in uncovering medical negligence.:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Episode Synopsis
A 17‑year‑old woman, Julie Reed, collapses at Bennett Clinic after an abortion and dies shortly after arrival. Her family pays for a private autopsy, which Quincy performs. He concludes that the physician, Dr. Ronald Shafer, was negligent and likely intoxicated during the procedure. Quincy interviews the boyfriend, who affirms Shafer’s apparent drunkenness. Quincy's investigation is impeded by fellow doctors who cover for Shafer. After witnessing Shafer fumbling a scalpel in surgery and confronting him, Quincy pushes for a coroner’s inquest. He persists despite institutional reluctance. Ultimately, he strives to ensure the physician is removed from practice.:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Plot Summary
Dr. Quincy investigates Julie Reed’s unexpected death and discovers systemic neglect in a trusted physician’s practice. His forensic diligence and moral conviction drive him into conflict with medical colleagues reluctant to expose one of their own.
← House of No Return (Quincy, M.E.) • Physician, Heal Thyself • A Small Circle of Friends (Quincy, M.E.) Season 3 Overview: Full Episode List
Main Cast
- Jack Klugman as Dr. R. Quincy
- Garry Walberg as Lt. Monahan
- John S. Ragin as Dr. Asten
- Robert Ito as Sam Fujiyama
Guest Cast
- Tara Buckman as Julie Reed (victim):contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
- John Dehner as Dr. Ronald Shafer:contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Case File Summary
Victim: Julie Reed, age 17 Case #: LACC 79.02.312
Quincy determines Reed died due to internal hemorrhaging following a negligent abortion procedure performed by an impaired physician.
Additional Victims
- None
Alleged Perpetrator
- **Dr. Ronald Shafer** – obstetrician whose negligence and possible intoxication lead directly to a young woman's death.
Filming Locations and Exterior Footage
Exterior footage features Los Angeles County hospital facades and medical clinic settings representative of the Bennett Clinic.
Forensic Science Insight
- Autopsy revealed massive hemorrhage inconsistent with standard abortion complications.
- Charlatant behavior and instrument mishandling in surgery point to impairment.
- Cross‑interview of boyfriend provided firsthand testimony of doctor’s intoxication at time of procedure.
- The episode underscores institutional reluctance in confronting medical professionals—a recurring forensic‑ethical conflict.
Themes & Tropes
- Medical Malpractice – doctor’s negligence leading to fatal outcome.
- Conspiracy of Silence – colleagues shield Shafer from accountability.
- Quincy's Moral Stand – stands against complacency in medical community.
- Science as Conscience – forensic accuracy driving justice.
Reception & Ratings
- IMDb rating: 7.3/10 from approximately 1,093 user votes:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
- Some reviewers called the episode “preachy” and overly admonishing of doctors, though others praised its willingness to tackle contentious issues like abortion and alcoholism within the profession.:contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
Trivia
- The title phrase comes from Luke 4:23 (“Physician, heal thyself”) and underscores the hypocrisy Quincy exposes within the medical profession.:contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
- Jack Klugman plays Quincy confronting a medically respected surgeon—a conflict he considered controversial for the time.
Cultural Impact
The episode reflects the show’s tradition of addressing systemic failures in institutions—this time within healthcare—and highlights the role of forensic medicine as a tool for ethical accountability.
See Also
- Quincy, M.E.
- List of Quincy, M.E. episodes
- Medical malpractice
- Forensic pathology
- Abortion on television
External Links
- [IMDb page for Physician, Heal Thyself]
- [TVDB entry for Physician, Heal Thyself]