Ep 21. Responsible Parties
- TVPG
- May 13, 1999
- 44 min
-
8.1 (469)
In "Responsible Parties," the 21st episode of ER season 5, a case of a young boy with a severe burn injury takes center stage. The emergency department is abuzz with activity when an overturned truck carrying combustible materials explodes, resulting in the boy's injury. However, as the team works to stabilize the patient, they uncover troubling clues that suggest the boy's family may have had something to do with the accident.
Dr. Kerry Weaver takes charge of the case, and her no-nonsense manner puts her at odds with the boy's mother, who insists that she and her son are blameless. Meanwhile, Dr. Greene faces his own moral quandary when he learns that the driver of the truck, a man with whom he was acquainted, may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.
As the team works to treat the boy's injuries, tensions rise between the medical staff and the boy's family, with accusations and distrust on both sides. Dr. Weaver is determined to get to the bottom of what happened on the day of the accident, and she enlists the help of Detective Reese to investigate the matter further.
As the episode unfolds, the team at ER must not only work to save the boy's life but also grapple with questions of responsibility and accountability. The case ultimately forces the doctors to confront their own ethical and moral principles, with no clear answers in sight.
"Responsible Parties" is a tense and thought-provoking episode that highlights the complex nature of modern healthcare. With its intricate plotline and nuanced characters, the episode grips viewers from start to finish, leaving them with much to consider long after the credits roll.