Prescription for Death
Encyclopedia
Prescription for Death was the first episode on the long-running crime drama television series Law & Order
. It was aired on September 13, 1990. Although it was the first episode of the series to air, it was not originally intended to be the pilot
. "Everybody's Favorite Bagman
", which aired on October 30, 1990, was originally written and shot as the pilot. Steven Hill
appears in this episode as D.A. Adam Schiff
, but was not actually part of the original cast and did not join the series until after the pilot. "Ripped from the headlines" - this episode is based upon the death of Libby Zion.
, accuses the hospital of negligence and demands a police investigation. Logan and Greevey question a doctor who made adjustments to her chart, but are soon led to the respected Dr. Edward Auster, who they feel may have been drunk on duty. The other residents are reluctant to speak for fear their jobs may be in jeopardy, and Stone
is faced with the awkward job of prosecuting a revered physician.
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
. It was aired on September 13, 1990. Although it was the first episode of the series to air, it was not originally intended to be the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
. "Everybody's Favorite Bagman
Everybody's Favorite Bagman
"Everybody's Favorite Bagman" originally aired on October 30, 1990 as the sixth episode of NBC's legal drama Law & Order. It was produced in 1988 and was the intended pilot episode of the series.-Plot:...
", which aired on October 30, 1990, was originally written and shot as the pilot. Steven Hill
Steven Hill
Steven Hill is an American film and television actor. His two better-known roles are District Attorney Adam Schiff on the NBC TV drama series Law & Order, whom he portrayed for ten seasons , and Dan Briggs, the original team leader of the Impossible Missions Force on CBS's television series...
appears in this episode as D.A. Adam Schiff
Adam Schiff (Law & Order)
Adam Schiff is a fictional character on the TV drama series Law & Order. He was played by Steven Hill from 1990 to 2000. Schiff was one of the main characters of the series and appeared in every episode of the first ten seasons except for Everybody's Favorite Bagman, which was produced before Hill...
, but was not actually part of the original cast and did not join the series until after the pilot. "Ripped from the headlines" - this episode is based upon the death of Libby Zion.
Plot
Suzanne Morton dies after a visit to a hospital emergency room during a hectic night shift. Her father, a former medic in VietnamVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, accuses the hospital of negligence and demands a police investigation. Logan and Greevey question a doctor who made adjustments to her chart, but are soon led to the respected Dr. Edward Auster, who they feel may have been drunk on duty. The other residents are reluctant to speak for fear their jobs may be in jeopardy, and Stone
Benjamin Stone
Benjamin "Ben" Stone is a fictional character portrayed by Michael Moriarty in the TV drama Law & Order.-Character overview:Stone works in the Manhattan District Attorney's office under Alfred Wentworth and Adam Schiff. It was Schiff with whom he is closest, treating him as a kind of surrogate...
is faced with the awkward job of prosecuting a revered physician.
Law
- George DzundzaGeorge DzundzaGeorge Dzundza is an American television and film actor.-Personal life:Dzundza was born in Rosenheim, Germany, to a Ukrainian father and Polish mother who were forced into factory labour by the Nazis. He spent the first few years of his life in displaced persons camps with his parents and one...
- Sgt. Max Greevey - Chris NothChris NothChristopher David "Chris" Noth is an American actor. He is known for long-running television roles as Det. Mike Logan on the police procedural and legal drama television series, Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and as Big on Sex and the City. For the latter role, he has been...
- Det. Mike LoganMike Logan (Law & Order)Michael "Mike" Logan is a fictional character in the police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order franchise, played by Chris Noth.-History in the franchise:... - Dann FlorekDann FlorekEzekial Dann Florek , professional name Dann Florek, is an American actor and director.-Early life:Florek was born in Flat Rock, Michigan. He attended Eastern Michigan University, but never graduated...
- Capt. Don Cragen
Order
- Michael MoriartyMichael MoriartyMichael Moriarty is an American-Canadian actor of stage and screen, and a jazz musician. He played Benjamin Stone for four seasons on the TV series Law & Order.-Early life:...
- Exec. A.D.A. Ben StoneBenjamin StoneBenjamin "Ben" Stone is a fictional character portrayed by Michael Moriarty in the TV drama Law & Order.-Character overview:Stone works in the Manhattan District Attorney's office under Alfred Wentworth and Adam Schiff. It was Schiff with whom he is closest, treating him as a kind of surrogate... - Richard BrooksRichard Brooks (actor)Richard L. Brooks is an African-American actor, singer, and director. He is best known for his role as Assistant District Attorney Paul Robinette during the first three seasons of the NBC TV drama Law & Order .Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Brooks studied acting, dance, and voice work at...
- A.D.A. Paul RobinettePaul RobinettePaul Robinette, played by Richard Brooks, is a fictional character who appeared in the TV drama series Law & Order from the pilot episode in 1990 until the final episode of the third season, "Benevolence," in 1993... - Steven HillSteven HillSteven Hill is an American film and television actor. His two better-known roles are District Attorney Adam Schiff on the NBC TV drama series Law & Order, whom he portrayed for ten seasons , and Dan Briggs, the original team leader of the Impossible Missions Force on CBS's television series...
- D.A. Adam SchiffAdam Schiff (Law & Order)Adam Schiff is a fictional character on the TV drama series Law & Order. He was played by Steven Hill from 1990 to 2000. Schiff was one of the main characters of the series and appeared in every episode of the first ten seasons except for Everybody's Favorite Bagman, which was produced before Hill...
Additional Guest Stars
- Erick AvariErick AvariErick Avari is an Indian American television, film and theater actor known for his roles in various science-fiction serial productions.-Early life:...
- Dr. 'Ekballa' Raza - Alvin Epstein - Dr. Chester
- Maryann Urbano - Dr. Jean Mills
- Bruce McCartyBruce McCartyBruce McCarty, FAIA is an American architect, founder and senior designer at McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects of Knoxville, Tennessee. During a career that has spanned more than a half-century, he has designed some of the city's iconic landmarks, and has been the city's most dedicated...
- Dr. Stephen Simonson - Ed Setrakian - Hoffman
- W.T. Martin - Dr. Lignell
- Daniel BenzaliDaniel BenzaliDaniel Benzali is a Brazilian-American stage, television and film actor.-Biography:Benzali was born in Rio de Janeiro to Brazilian Jewish parents...
- Medical Examiner - Frederica Meister - Mrs. Melanie Stivic
- Annie CorleyAnnie CorleyAnnie Corley is an American actress who has appeared in a wide variety of films and television shows since 1990. Her most notable role to date was playing Meryl Streep's daughter in the film The Bridges of Madison County....
- Stewart - Rocky CarrollRocky CarrollRoscoe "Rocky" Carroll is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Joey Emerson on the FOX comedy-drama Roc, as Dr. Keith Wilkes on the medical drama Chicago Hope, and as Leon Vance on the CBS drama NCIS and its spinoff NCIS: Los Angeles.-Early life:Carroll was born Roscoe Fulton Carroll...
- Dr. Davids - William Roerick - Dr. Robert Abraham
- Russell Horton - Markowitz
- Tom Kubiak - Dr. Rasmussen
- Harry S. Murphy - Don
- Maeve McGuireMaeve McGuireMaeve McGuire is an American actress, best known for her role as "Nicole Travis Drake" on the soap opera The Edge of Night, which she played from 1968 to 1974 and from 1975 to 1977...
- Dr. Walters - Stephanie Gordon - Nurse
- Kate WilkinsonKate WilkinsonKate Wilkinson was an American stage, film and television actress, best known for her roles as Viola Stapleton in the CBS soap opera Guiding Light, a role she played from 1976 to 1981, and Clara Hudson on the NBC soap opera Another World, which she played from 1987 to 1989.In addition to...
- Gray-Haired Lady - Shona Tucker - Records Clerk
- Nick Damici - Dubuque
- Leslie Goldman - Judge
- Chaz McCormack - McInerny
- Lee TergesenLee TergesenLee Allen Tergesen is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Tobias Beecher in HBO’s prison drama Oz and as Evan Wright in Generation Kill.-Early life:...
- Clemens - Joan Kaye - Nurse
- Sean WhitesellSean WhitesellSean Whitesell is an American film and television actor, who is also a television writer and producer. He studied acting at the University of California in San Diego, where he received an MFA in acting...
- Intern