Ep 5. Suffer the Children

Synopsis: Suffer the Children is the fifth episode of the first season of the hit television series Cagney & Lacey, which originally aired on April 15, 1982, on CBS. The episode features Christine Cagney (played by Sharon Gless) and Mary Beth Lacey (played by Tyne Daly) as they investigate the death of a four-month-old baby.

In Suffer the Children, Cagney and Lacey are called to investigate the death of a baby named Christopher James, who passed away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The detectives are initially skeptical of the mother's story, as she left her baby unattended while she went out to buy cigarettes. However, they come to believe that the mother is telling the truth and that the baby's death was a tragic accident.

The detectives' investigation leads them to a support group for parents who have lost children to SIDS. They discover that the group's leader, Dr. Margaret Parsons (played by Barbara Barrie), has been giving the parents untested herbs and drugs as she claims they will help prevent SIDS. Cagney and Lacey become suspicious of Dr. Parsons' methods and start to investigate her further.

As they continue their investigation, Cagney and Lacey encounter several obstacles, including uncooperative witnesses and a drug bust that interrupts their inquiries. However, through their determination and hard work, the detectives eventually uncover Dr. Parsons' true intentions and put an end to her dangerous practices.

The episode deals with several important themes, including the dangers of relying on untested pharmaceuticals, the importance of thorough investigations, and the grief of losing a child. It also explores the complex relationship between the two detectives as they work together to solve the case.

Suffer the Children was praised for its sensitive handling of the subject matter and its realistic portrayal of police work. The episode received critical acclaim and helped establish Cagney & Lacey as one of the most popular television shows of the 1980s.