by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Vital Signs stars Ed Asner and Gary Cole as father and son, both prominent surgeons. Asner's skills have diminished as his alcoholism increases. Cole returns to his home town to straighten his dad out. What no one knows is that Cole himself is a substance abuser, addicted to morphine. After several near-disasters and squabbling denials, father and son make a mutual pact to wean themselves away from their addictions--with tragic results. Vital Signs is a better than average "affliction of the week" TV movie.
characteristics
- Doctor
- Son
- Father
- Addict
- Drugs
- Narcotics
- Alcoholic
- Family
- Alcoholism
- Drug Addiction
- Surgery
- Slice-of-life
