Law & Order (TV Series)

Cruel and Unusual (1995)

Jeffrey DeMunn: Defense Attorney Professor Norman Rothenberg

Photos 

Quotes 

• Professor Norman Rothenberg : Next you'll lock up my allergist for giving me shots twice a year.

  Jack McCoy : If he hooked up electrodes to your chest and back and gave you electric shocks every 10 minutes, I *might* consider it.

• Dr. Ira Chaikin : I've worked with autistic children for the past 20 years. I've read all the studies done on facilitated communication, and I've seen it used in the field. I haven't seen anything I consider sufficient to say it's valid.

  Jack McCoy : You don't think it works, Dr. Chaikin?

  Dr. Ira Chaikin : There's no proof of its reliability with autistic children. In my opinion, the messages reflect the facilitator's coaching.

  Jack McCoy : Are you saying that there's deception involved?

  Dr. Ira Chaikin : No. More like wishful thinking. For parents, there's nothing better in the world than to have your child say, "I love you," and have a true sense of it. Autistic children can't do that. So, when something comes along that promises meaningful communication, parents and people who work with autistic children believe in it.

  Jack McCoy : Thank you. No more questions.

  Professor Norman Rothenberg : Dr. Chaikin, does facilitated communication have its proponents?

  Dr. Ira Chaikin : Yes. So do Ouija boards.