While in Los Angeles to testify for a trial against gangster Frank Harmon, Ed is shot and falls off the balcony of his hotel room. He is then taken to the Craig Institute where he undergoes emergency surgery. Although the bullet wounds were non-life threatening, Ed suffers a broken back in the fall and some damage to his spine. The scarring leaves him paralyzed and only an experimental surgical procedure is the only option to regaining his mobility. Also, even though all the evidence points to Harmon, Ironside has doubts that he was the person responsible for the attempted hit. Also, the chief begins having flashbacks to the night he was shot and paralyzed. The crossover starts on Ironside S04E01 Five Days in the Death of Sgt. Brown (I).

Gritty story of an aging gynecologist, portrayed credibly by Richard Basehart, who is accused by Dr. Hunter(David Hartman)of performing unnecessary operations. Dr. McLain, the besieged doctor, is promoting lake side property investments which requires substantial capital. Dr. Craig (E.G. Marshall) is a long time friend of Dr. McLain and defends the renown surgeon until it becomes evident that his practice must end. Dorothy Malone plays Basehart's wife and Vic Tayback is featured as a man who loses his wife when she is subjected to an unnecessary operation.

Arthur Gravis (Carl Reiner) advances acupuncture as a treatment, while Ira Goldberg worries about the cost of medical care.

Dr. Hunter interacts with cancer patients with different attitudes toward their disease which are not always commensurate with the patients' prognoses while dealing with medical professionals not always in alignment with the doctor.

Janice, a TV reporter, incurs permanent paralysis during a speedboat accident. Facing a future she finds hopeless, the quality of her life and medical care is debated by her husband, her doctor, and a hospital review board. The ultimate decision though belongs to Janice.

A story about a child hemophiliac.

A new female doctor has an intense fear of dealing with patients, forcing her to ask herself if she really has what it takes to be a doctor.