Law & Order (TV Series)
Suicide Box (2003)
Lisa Eichhorn: M.E. Gail Berardi
Quotes
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M.E. Gail Berardi : As one of the assistant medical examiners, it was my function to perform autopsies.
Carl Halpert : And you performed the autopsy on Eric Thomas, did you?
M.E. Gail Berardi : That was eight years ago. I don't remember, but if the records show that I did, I won't argue.
Carl Halpert : I show you what has been marked Defendant's Exhibit D. Do you recognize it, Dr. Berardi?
M.E. Gail Berardi : Those are my initials, yes.
Carl Halpert : Please tell the court what it is.
M.E. Gail Berardi : We call it the M.E.'s Summary Report.
Carl Halpert : It contains the bottom line on the case?
M.E. Gail Berardi : That's correct. Typically, there are detailed reports found inside the folder.
Carl Halpert : Mm-hmm. But, alas, this one's empty. Could that mean the that detailed work you spoke of was not performed in this case?
M.E. Gail Berardi : Absolutely not. I couldn't have completed the summary if I hadn't done the work.
Carl Halpert : And you know it was a suicide because this little box is checked?
M.E. Gail Berardi : That's correct. While at the M.E.'s Office I performed thousands of autopsies, and I followed the exact same procedure with each of them.
Carl Halpert : Okay, tell us what happens after you check the little suicide box.
M.E. Gail Berardi : The case is deemed closed.
Carl Halpert : And the detectives stop working?
M.E. Gail Berardi : That's correct.
Carl Halpert : So, hypothetically, if a detective was stumped or if he just didn't feel like investigating the case, you could help him out by making a little check here . . .
M.E. Gail Berardi : That is absurd.
Carl Halpert : But it's possible.