DIAGNOSIS MURDER: PHYSICIAN, MURDER THYSELF (TV)
Summary
One in this series of mystery programs about the life and times of Dr. Mark Sloan, a physician at Community General Hospital who enjoys solving murder cases with the help of his son, Steve, a homicide detective. This episode opens with preparation for a groundbreaking operation to remove cardiac scar tissue from Sloan's colleague, Dr. Everden. The two surgeons performing the operation, Drs. Morrissey and Andrews, are both Everden's protŽgŽs in the field of experimental surgery. Unfortunately, they developed an animosity toward each other when Morrissey took over Everden's prestigious position. In addition, Sally Crawfield, the nurse assisting them, as well as anesthesiologist Les Franklin, harbor an intense dislike of Morrissey. Shortly before the operation, Morrissey becomes the victim of two threatening pranks perpetrated by Animal Crusade, a militant animal rights group, because of his work involving the testing of animals. During the operation, Morrissey collapses, goes into cardiac arrest, and dies soon afterward. The autopsy shows nothing out of the ordinary, but when Amanda orders a test of the deceased's blood chemistry, they find poison in his system. The prime suspects are the members of Animal Crusade, of which Crawfield is a member. Further investigation by Sloan and Steve reveal that practically everyone had a motive to kill Morrissey. Crawfield detested his cruelty to the animals in their studies, and when she threatened to expose him he blackmailed her with an affair she once had with a prominent member of the medical establishment; Andrews was jealous that he became Everden's successor; and Franklin knew that his wife was having an affair with Morrissey. While Everden explains his theory of how Morrissey became poisoned, Sloan suffers a collapse similar to Morrissey's. As the team prepares for surgery, the truth about the murder comes to light. Commercials deleted. This program is closed-captioned.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: April 24, 1997 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:45:25
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:54706
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense; Drama, police/private detective; Drama, medical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Animal rights - Drama; Drama, medical; Drama, mystery/suspense; Drama, police/private detective; Surgery - Drama
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1993-2001
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dean Hargrove … Executive Producer
- Fred Silverman … Executive Producer
- Tom Chehak … Executive Producer
- Dick Van Dyke … Executive Producer
- Steve Hattman … Co-Executive Producer
- Lee Goldberg … Supervising Producer, Writer
- William Rabkin … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Barry Steinberg … Producer
- Robin Madden … Co-Producer
- Nyby, Christian I., II … Director
- Gerry Conway … Writer
- Joyce Burditt … Created by
- Peter Myers … Music by
- Dick DeBenedictis … Theme Music by
- Dick Van Dyke … Cast, Dr. Mark Sloan
- Victoria Rowell … Cast, Amanda Bentley
- Charlie Schlatter … Cast, Dr. Jesse Travis
- Michael Tucci … Cast, Norman Briggs
- Van Dyke, Barry … Cast, Steve Sloan
- Chad Everett … Cast, Dr. Andrews
- Jack Klugman … Cast, Dr. Everden
- Bernie Kopell … Cast, Dr. Franklin
- Wayne Rogers … Cast, Dr. Morrissey
- Hunter Tylo … Cast, Claire McKenner
- Michele Lamar Richards … Cast, Dr. Sally Crawfield
- Leslie Charleson … Cast, New Doctor
- Stuart Damon … Cast, Dr. Michael