This episode appears to be based on the 1989 Alex Dale Morris case. Morris, 4 years old in February 1989, began complaining of fever and congestion. The child was anointed with holy oil, and the members of his church's Oregon congregation prayed for Alex for 46 days. Even though a police officer, acting on an anonymous tip, had stopped by to check on the boy, everyone kept insisting he was fine. Alex died on April 15, 1989, of a lung infection that could have been easily cured by antibiotics.
This was Michelle Trachtenberg's television debut in the uncredited role of the child victim Dinah Driscoll.
Marian Seldes who played the spiritual healer, went on to play Chris Noth's mother in Oh Come All Ye Faithful (1998). Her character was listed as "Mrs. Big," referring to the nickname of Noth's character Mr. Big.
Socorro Santiago has played seven different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 2.5 God Bless the Child (1991) - Cora Amado.
- Episode 7.14 Working Mom (1997) - Teresa Regalado.
- Episode 9.8 Punk (1998) - Alma Cabrera.
- Episode 11.18 White Lie (2001) - Teresa Martinez.
- Episode 13.22 Sheltered (2003) - Mrs. Anna Rodriguez.
- Episode 16.5 Life Line (2005) - Estela Richter.
Socorro Santiago (Cora Amado) also played the role of Mami in Cruel and Unusual (1995) (episode 5.19).