A Child's Cry for Help (TV 1994)

A recently widowed doctor moves with her daughter to start at a new hospital. While there a loving mother brings her son in for treatment. The doctor suspects that there is something wrong,... See full summary »

Director:

Sandor Stern

Writers:

Sandor Stern (teleplay), Jan Jaffe Kahn (teleplay),

Stars:

Veronica Hamel, Pam Dawber, Daniel Hugh Kelly

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Veronica Hamel	...	Dr. Paula Spencer
Pam Dawber	...	Monica Shaw
Daniel Hugh Kelly	...	Donald Prescott
Lisa Jakub	...	Amanda Spencer
Cynthia Martells	...	Thelma
Daniel Benzali	...	Dr. Everett Morris
James Pickens Jr.	...	Brad Currie
Jeff Williams	...	Dr. Alec Jefferson
Zachary Charles	...	Eric Shaw
Tobey Maguire	...	Peter Lively
Regina Krueger	...	Dr. Joan Cates
Lois Hicks	...	Nurse Alma
James Gale	...	John Pinetta
Connie Craig	...	Receptionist
John Ashton	...	Cal Warner

Storyline

A recently widowed doctor moves with her daughter to start at a new hospital. While there a loving mother brings her son in for treatment. The doctor suspects that there is something wrong, and theorizes that the mother is deliberately making her son sick so that she could bring him to the hospital for the attention that it gives her. When the doctor decides to restrict the mother's access to her son and is reporting her to child services, the mother in turn decides to sue the doctor and the hospital. And some of the hospital board don't agree with her diagnosis or think that she's over-reacting. And even while the mother's not allowed access to her son, he is still sick, so is the doctor right or wrong?

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Plot Keywords:

doctor | hospital | single parent | battle of wills | lawsuit | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Intensive Care

Filming Locations:

Denver, Colorado, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Entertainment, Longbow Productions, Ronald J. Kahn Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

A doctor suspects a mother of mistreating her child. Is she right or are her own failings as a mother interfering with her work?

This movie is about a doctor who is new at a hospital. She instantly goes about making sure her place there is known. A young boy is brought in suspected of having an infected appendix. He has an operation to remove it but afterwards he gets really sick. He gets sicker and sicker and no one knows why and it seems as though someone is making him sick. His mother is devoted to being by her child throughout everything he goes through, so much so that she is by his bedside 18 hours a day and rarely does anything for herself. Everyone sees her as a saint and a loving mother. But the new doctor suspects the mother of having a psychiatric disorder. This disorder is known as Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy. The syndrome is where a parent (or a carer) of the child will harm them intentionally so that they can get attention off doctors and other people.

I have to admit, the film makers have balls to make a film about this subject. Especially considering that most people do not even believe in this syndrome. The film is really well done and should be given a lot of credit for doing what they did with the set being limited to so few places. The storyline was top notch and could have been written by Hollywood's best.

The acting, while not perfect, was still pretty good. Pam Dawber should be given a lot of credit for selling her character so good. She really convinced me with her portrayal of the mother. Veronica Hamel also did well with the doctors character.

The rest of the cast were pretty good as well.

I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who likes a good story. 8 out of 10 is a very worthy score.