Ep 5. Accredo

In Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 20 episode 5, titled "Accredo," the SVU team is called to investigate a case involving the rape of a pharmaceutical saleswoman. The victim, named Rebecca (played by Sarah Winter), claims that she was sexually assaulted by a doctor who was supposed to be helping her promote a new drug. As the detectives begin to dig deeper into the case, they discover a web of corruption and deceit that threatens to undermine the entire pharmaceutical industry.

The episode starts with a scene of Rebecca introducing a new drug called Accredo to a group of doctors at a conference. She is passionate about her job and believes that Accredo has the potential to revolutionize the way chronic pain is treated. However, things take a dark turn when the headlining speaker, Dr. Evan Keller (played by Chad Kimball), corners her in a hotel room and rapes her. Rebecca goes to the police, but she is hesitant to come forward with her story because she fears that it will hurt her career. She only agrees to pursue the case when she learns that there may be other victims.

The SVU detectives, led by Olivia Benson (played by Mariska Hargitay), begin their investigation by interviewing Rebecca and gathering evidence from the crime scene. They quickly find inconsistencies in Dr. Keller's story and suspect that he may have used his position of power to manipulate Rebecca. As they delve deeper into the case, they discover that Keller is part of a larger network of doctors and pharmaceutical companies that have been working together to promote their products.

The detectives soon learn that Accredo is not as safe as it was marketed to be. They discover that the drug has addictive properties and that many of the patients who have been prescribed it have suffered serious side effects. Furthermore, they uncover evidence that the pharmaceutical companies have been paying off doctors to promote their drugs, and that some of these doctors have been using the drugs to exploit their patients.

The SVU team is faced with a difficult choice as they try to bring justice to the victims of this case. They must decide whether to go after the individual doctors and pharmaceutical companies involved in the scheme or pursue the larger issue of corruption in the industry. Eventually, they decide to do both, and in the process, they uncover a massive conspiracy that involves some of the biggest names in the business.

Overall, "Accredo" is a thought-provoking episode that explores the intersection of pharmaceuticals and sexual assault. It raises important questions about the ethics of the pharmaceutical industry and the power dynamics that exist between doctors and their patients. The episode is well-written and well-acted, and it is sure to leave viewers questioning what they know about the drugs that they use and the people who promote them.