A Question of Death (Quincy, M.E.)
| A Question of Death | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode title card | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Episode Quote
"A life isn’t always proved by the moment we stop breathing—it’s what we do with the moments before and after." ~ Dr. Quincy, in A Question of Death
Episode Overview
"A Question of Death" is the tenth episode of season 4 of Quincy, M.E., originally airing on NBC on **January 4, 1979**. Quincy becomes embroiled in a lawsuit when the family of a man he pronounced dead accuses him of rushing the declaration to hasten organ harvesting for transplant, igniting a heated debate over the medical—or moral—definition of death.
Application of The QME Episode Laws
This episode vividly exemplifies **The QME Episode Laws**:
✅ **Law 1 – Seek truth & bring justice:** Quincy works to exonerate himself and protect both patient rights and ethical medical practice—seeking truth in defining death rather than yielding to pressure for fast organ procurement.
✅ **Law 2 – Explore social and ethical issues against powerful systems:** He challenges hospital administration, legal teams, and public opinion, unearthing conflicts between medical bureaucracy, legal liability, and human rights.
✅ **Law 3 – Tread complex or controversial topics with sensitivity:** The episode navigates ethical minefields—organ transplantation, consent, end-of-life definitions—with emotional depth and balanced respect.
✅ **Law 4 – Prioritize scientific accuracy in forensic investigation:** Quincy uses meticulous medical examination to determine the patient's physiological status; the story hinges on accurate portrayal of heart-brain function and diagnostic tests.
Episode Synopsis
A hospital is preparing to harvest kidneys from a young accident victim. Quincy is called to declare the patient legally dead—but the man regains signs of life moments later. The patient’s family, aided by an opportunistic lawyer, sues Quincy and the coroner’s office, claiming he pronounced death prematurely to expedite transplantation. Facing media scrutiny, Quincy reviews the patient’s physiological tests, consults with legal medicine experts, and investigates hospital protocols. He uncovers flawed equipment calibration and protocol deviations. Facing down the hospital board and the district attorney, Quincy presents scientific evidence supporting his clinical judgment. The lawsuit is dropped, but the case prompts a new policy establishing clearer standards for declaring death before organ procurement.
Main Cast
- **Jack Klugman** as Dr. R. Quincy
- **Robert Ito** as Sam Fujiyama
- **Val Bisoglio** as Danny Tovo
- **John S. Ragin** as Dr. Robert Asten
- **Garry Walberg** as Lt. Frank Monahan
- **Joseph Roman** as Sgt. Brill
Guest Cast
- **Royal Dano** as Mr. Blake (patient’s father/litigation lead) :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- **Judson Pratt**, **Jeanne Bates**, **Don Keefer**, **Granville Van Dusen**, **Nancy Priddy** :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Case File Summary
Victim: Unnamed young male in accidental coma Complaint: Premature declaration of death for organ harvesting Medical Findings: Conflicting neurological signs; final pronouncement upheld after review Outcome: Hospital revises death declaration protocols; litigation withdrawn
Forensic Science Insight
- Examination of **brainstem reflexes vs. cardiac failure** in declaring death
- Importance of **equipment maintenance and accurate life-sign measurement**
- Ethical interface between **diagnosis and medical-legal responsibility**
Themes & Tropes
- **Bioethics & organ transplantation** – the moral cost of saving lives
- **Medical horror/social panic** – sensationalism and fear surrounding death
- **David vs. institutional Goliath** – Quincy takes on hospital bureaucracy
- **Science vs. hotel-business-driven timelines** – slow, careful investigation over fast money
Reception & Ratings
Contemporary reception commended the episode for tackling a thorny medical-legal dilemma and for Jack Klugman’s nuanced, impassioned performance :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
Trivia
- First *Quincy* episode to directly contest the **definition of death** in medical practice.
- Guest actor **Royal Dano**, known for character roles in westerns and horror, delivers a powerful performance as the grieving father :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
See Also
- Quincy, M.E.
- List of Quincy, M.E. episodes
- Organ transplantation ethics
- Bioethics
- Medical jurisprudence
External Links
- [IMDb – A Question of Death](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0681745/)
- [Rotten Tomatoes – Quincy, M.E. Season 3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/quincy_m_e_/s03)