History Recap / LawAndOrderS12E15BornAgain

** Also inverted, as Skoda appears in this episode to inform everyone that the behavioural diagnosis attributed to Paula is very real, and that there are a variety of treatment options available of varying efficacy. This one just hasn't got the numbers together yet to say one way or the other whether it's any use.

11-year-old Paula Weston is found asphyxiated to death in a park, but her body had been moved after death. Paula had a history of mental illness and severe behavioral problems, which were getting worse; her adoptive mother Janet was struggling to cope. When it's discovered that Janet lied about being home at the time Paula was killed, she is arrested. The detectives find out that on the night of Paula's death she and Janet had visited Dr Stahl, an alternative therapist who promised to help Paula. Stahl practices "rebirthing" therapy, which involves a child being wrapped tightly in a blanket and forced to fight their way out to symbolize being "born" again into a fresh start.

* SnakeOilSalesman: While Stahl genuinely believes that rebirthing works, she isn't a medical doctor and there is no scientific evidence to support the treatments she uses.

11-year-old Paula Weston is found dead in a park; it's established she had asphyxiated and her body was moved after her death. Paula had a history of mental illness and severe behavioral problems, which were getting worse; her adoptive mother Janet was struggling to cope. When it's discovered that Janet lied about being home at the time Paula was killed, she is arrested. The detectives find out that on the night of Paula's death she and Janet had visited Dr Stahl, an alternative therapist who promised to help Paula. Stahl practices "rebirthing" therapy, which involves a child being wrapped tightly in a blanket and forced to fight their way out to symbolize being "born" again into a fresh start.

A search of Stahl's home reveals a tape recording of the therapy session, in which Paula was crying and struggling to breathe; when Janet complained, Stahl asked her to leave. Stahl is charged with murder and Janet with obstruction. Stahl's testimony leads [=McCoy=] to discover that Paula actually died from a reaction to latex. Janet knew Paula was allergic, and had rubbed latex gloves on the blanket she provided for Paula's therapy. Confronted with this knowledge, Janet says that she deserves a life of her own; Paula was simply too difficult to live with. [=McCoy=] responds that Paula herself was just a child. Stahl's charges are reduced to physical assault and Janet will be charged with murder.

An 11-year-old girl's body is found in the park. It's soon established that she was asphyxiated and her body moved after her death. She turns out to be Paula Weston, whose mother Janet had reported her missing that morning. Green and Briscoe discover that Paula was adopted at age four, and had a history of severe behavioral problems and mental illness. Janet had been struggling to cope and Paula's behavior was getting worse. When it's discovered that Janet lied about being home at the time Paula was killed, she is arrested. The detectives find out that on the night of Paula's death she and Janet had visited Dr Stahl, an alternative therapist who promised to help Paula. Stahl practices "rebirthing" therapy, which involves a child being wrapped tightly in a blanket and forced to fight their way out to symbolize being "born" again into a fresh start.

An 11-year-old girl's body is found in the park. It's soon established that she was asphyxiated and her body moved after her death. She turns out to be Paula Weston, whose mother Janet had reported her missing that morning. Green and Briscoe discover that Paula was adopted at age four, and had a history of severe behavioral problems and mental illness. Janet had been struggling to cope and Paula's behavior was getting worse. When it's discovered that Janet lied about being home at the time Paula was killed, she is arrested.

The detectives find out that on the night of Paula's death she and Janet had visited Dr Stahl, an alternative therapist who promised to help Paula. Stahl practices "rebirthing" therapy, which involves a child being wrapped tightly in a blanket and forced to fight their way out to symbolize being "born" again into a fresh start. A search of Stahl's home reveals a tape recording of the therapy session, in which Paula was crying and struggling to breathe; when Janet complained, Stahl asked her to leave. Stahl is charged with murder and Janet with obstruction. Stahl's testimony leads [=McCoy=] to discover that Paula actually died from a reaction to latex. Janet knew Paula was allergic, and had rubbed latex gloves on the blanket she provided for Paula's therapy. Confronted with this knowledge, Janet says that she deserves a life of her own; Paula was simply too difficult to live with. [=McCoy=] responds that Paula herself was just a child. Stahl's charges are reduced to physical assault and Janet will be charged with murder.

An 11-year-old girl's body is found in the park. It's soon established that she was asphyxiated and her body moved after her death. She turns out to be Paula Weston, whose mother Janet had reported her missing that morning. Green and Briscoe discover that Paula was adopted at age four, and had a history of severe behavioral problems and mental illness. Janet had been struggling to cope and Paula's behavior was getting worse; Janet had been complaining that she couldn't have a social life with Paula around, which gives her a motive. When it is discovered that she lied about being home at the time Paula was killed, Janet is arrested.

The detectives find out that on the night of Paula's death she and Janet had visited Dr Stahl, an alternative therapist who promised to help Paula. Stahl practices "rebirthing" therapy, which involves a child being wrapped tightly in a blanket and forced to fight their way out to symbolize being "born" again into a fresh start. A search of Stahl's home reveals a tape recording of the therapy session, in which Paula was crying and struggling to breathe; when Janet complained, Stahl asked her to leave. Stahl is charged with murder and Janet with obstruction. The defense successfully gets the tape excluded as evidence and Janet Weston's testimony is now vital.

Janet says that Stahl asked her to hold Paula down and trap her with pillows to simulate birth contractions. She was then convinced to help Stahl cover up the death so that they wouldn't go to jail. Stahl's testimony leads [=McCoy=] to discover that Paula actually died from a reaction to latex. Janet knew Paula was allergic, and had rubbed latex gloves on the blanket she provided for Paula's therapy. Confronted with this knowledge, Janet says that she deserves a life of her own; Paula was simply too difficult to live with. [=McCoy=] responds that Paula herself was just a child. Stahl's charges are reduced to physical assault and Janet will be charged with murder.

* QuackDoctor: While Stahl genuinely believes that rebirthing works, she isn't a medical doctor and there is no scientific evidence to support the treatments she uses.
* RippedFromTheHeadlines: From the case of Candace Newmaker, a child who suffocated during rebirthing therapy.