History Recap / LawAndOrderS2E5GodBlessTheChild

* AgainstMyReligion: The Dricolls' state this as their justification for refusing to take their kids to a hospital resulting in both dying.

!!!This episode contains examples of:

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: Based on the case of Alex Dale Morris, a child who died from an easily treatable infection after spiritual healing.

* AgainstMyReligion: Any form of medical intervention is against the Driscolls'.
* EthnicMenialLabor: The Driscolls' housekeeper plays into this stereotype.

* ReligiousStereotype: The Driscolls fit this trope.

* HereWeGoAgain: This is everyone's reaction when they hear that Mrs. Driscoll is already expecting another child.

* ReligiousStereotype

In court, to get both parents convicted, Stone must prove Nancy was present when Ted called 911. Under questioning, she admits that she and her husband argued over what to do for Dinah. Ted started to call 911, but Nancy stopped him, fearing that he would go to hell if he went against their faith. When instructing the jury, the judge deliberately frames his instructions to encourage acquittal (as is standard in such cases, because of the freedom of religion defense.) The jury finds the Driscolls not guilty of endangerment, but convicts them of manslaughter. Stone does not believe they will be given jail time but hopes the case may save another child now that precedence has been set for conviction of a parent.

* ParentalNeglect

A five-year-old girl named Dinah Driscoll dies from strep throat after her parents, Ted and Nancy Driscoll, refuse medical treatment for her on religious grounds. However, freedom of religion is a legal defense to endangering the welfare of a child. The case against the Driscolls rests on whether they knew that Dinah was sick enough to die, and whether they truly believed prayer would cure her. It is discovered that Nancy Driscoll was drinking (also against their religion) on the night Dinah died, and Ted tried to call 911; suggesting they may not truly have believed prayer would work. They also lost an older child to a treatable illness before Dinah was born. Against Schiff's advice, Stone presses for manslaughter charges as well as endangerment. The Driscolls refuse a plea deal for the sake of their religious beliefs.

A five-year-old girl named Dinah Driscoll dies from strep throat after her parents, Ted and Nancy Driscoll, refuse medical treatment for her on religious grounds. However, freedom of religion is a legal defence to endangering the welfare of a child. The case against the Driscolls rests on whether they knew that Dinah was sick enough to die, and whether they truly believed prayer would cure her. It is discovered that Nancy Driscoll was drinking (also against their religion) on the night Dinah died, and Ted tried to call 911; suggesting they may not truly have believed prayer would work. They also lost an older child to a treatable illness before Dinah was born. Against Schiff's advice, Stone presses for manslaughter charges as well as endangerment. The Driscolls refuse a plea deal for the sake of their religious beliefs.

In court, to get both parents convicted, Stone must prove Nancy was present when Ted called 911. Under questioning, she admits that she and her husband argued over what to do for Dinah. Ted started to call 911, but Nancy stopped him, fearing that he would go to hell if he went against their faith. When instructing the jury, the judge deliberately frames his instructions to encourage acquittal (as is standard in such cases, because of the freedom of religion defence.) The jury finds the Driscolls not guilty of endangerment, but convicts them of manslaughter. Stone does not believe they will be given jail time but hopes the case may save another child now that precedence has been set for conviction of a parent.

A five-year-old girl named Dinah Driscoll dies from strep throat after her parents, Ted and Nancy Driscoll, refuse medical treatment for her on religious grounds. However, freedom of religion is a legal defence to endangering the welfare of a child. The case against the Driscolls rests on whether they knew that Dinah was sick enough to die, and whether they truly believed prayer would cure her. Cerreta and Logan gather some evidence suggesting the Driscolls may not have believed prayer would work: Nancy Driscoll was drinking (also against their religion) on the night Dinah died, and Ted tried to call 911. It is also discovered that before Dinah was born, the Driscolls lost an older child to a treatable illness.

Against Schiff's advice, Stone presses for manslaughter charges as well as endangerment. The Driscolls refuse a plea deal for the sake of their religious beliefs. In court, Stone plays the recording of Ted Driscoll's 911 call; and a member of the Driscolls' church testifies that Nancy acknowledged that Dinah might die. In order to get both parents convicted, Stone must prove Nancy was present when Ted called 911. The Driscolls' former housekeeper reveals that Dinah herself had asked for a doctor before she died, but the judge will not permit the housekeeper to be called as a witness.

Under questioning, Nancy Driscoll admits that she and her husband argued over what to do for Dinah. Ted started to call 911, but Nancy stopped him, fearing that he would go to hell if he went against their faith. When instructing the jury, the judge deliberately frames his instructions to encourage acquittal (as is standard in such cases, because of the freedom of religion defence.) The jury finds the Driscolls not guilty of endangerment, but convicts them of manslaughter. Stone does not believe they will be given jail time but hopes the case may save another child now that precedence has been set for conviction of a parent.

A five-year-old girl named Dinah Driscoll dies from strep throat after her parents, Ted and Nancy Driscoll, refuse medical treatment for her on religious grounds. However, freedom of religion is a legal defence to endangering the welfare of a child. The case against the Driscolls rests on whether they knew that Dinah was sick enough to die, and whether they truly believed prayer would cure her. Cerreta and Logan gather some evidence suggesting the Driscolls may not have believed prayer would work: Nancy Driscoll was drinking on the night Dinah died, and Ted tried to call 911. It is also discovered that before Dinah was born, the Driscolls lost an older child to a treatable illness.

Against Schiff's advice, Stone presses for manslaughter charges as well as endangerment. The Driscolls refuse a plea deal for the sake of their religious beliefs. In court, Stone plays the recording of Ted Driscoll's 911 call; and a member of the Driscoll's church testifies that Nancy acknowledged that Dinah might die. In order to get both parents convicted, Stone must prove Nancy was present when Ted called 911. The Driscolls' former housekeeper reveals that Dinah herself had asked for a doctor before she died, but the judge will not permit the housekeeper to be called as a witness.

Against Schiff's advice, Stone presses for manslaughter charges as well as endangerment. The Driscolls refuse a plea deal for the sake of their religious beliefs. In court, Stone plays the recording of Ted Driscoll's 911 call; and a church member testifies that Nancy acknowledged the risk that Dinah would die. In order to get both parents convicted, Stone must prove Nancy was present when Ted called 911. The Driscolls' former housekeeper reveals that Dinah herself had asked for a doctor before she died, but the judge will not permit the housekeeper to be called as a witness.

A five-year-old girl named Dinah Driscoll dies from strep throat after her parents, Ted and Nancy Driscoll, refuse medical treatment for her on religious grounds. However, freedom of religion is a legal defence to endangering the welfare of a child. The case against the Driscolls rests on whether they knew that Dinah was sick enough to die, and whether they truly believed prayer would cure her. Cerreta and Logan gather some evidence suggesting the Driscolls may not have believed prayer would work: Nancy Driscoll was drinking on the night Dinah died, Ted tried to call 911, and his sister thinks Nancy may have been having doubts. It is also discovered that before Dinah was born, the Driscolls lost an older child to a treatable illness.

Against Schiff's advice, Stone presses for manslaughter charges as well as endangerment. The Driscolls refuse a plea deal for the sake of their religious beliefs. In court, Stone plays the recording of Ted Driscoll's 911 call; and a church member testifies that Nancy acknowledged the risk that Dinah would die. In order to get both parents convicted, Stone must prove Nancy was present when Ted called 911. The Driscolls' housekeeper reveals that Dinah herself had asked for a doctor before she died. The judge will not permit her to be summoned: she is a biased witness (since the Driscolls fired her after Dinah's death) and her claims are hearsay.

Under questioning, Nancy Driscoll admits that she and her husband argued over what to do for Dinah. Ted started to call 911, but Nancy stopped him, fearing that he would go to hell if he went against their faith. When instructing the jury, the judge deliberately frames his instructions to encourage acquittal (as is standard in such cases because of the freedom of religion defence.) The jury finds the Driscolls not guilty of endangerment, but convicts them of manslaughter. Stone does not believe they will be given jail time, but hopes the case may save another child now that precedence has been set for conviction of a parent.

Under questioning, Nancy Driscoll admits that she and her husband argued over what to do for Dinah. Ted started to call 911, but Nancy stopped him, fearing that he would go to hell if he went against their faith. When instructing the jury, the judge deliberately frames his instructions as to encourage acquittal (as is standard in such cases because of the freedom of religion defence.) The jury finds the Driscolls not guilty of endangerment, but convicts them of manslaughter. Stone does not believe they will be given jail time, but hopes the case may save another child now that precedence has been set for conviction of a parent.