compound complex: The episode was entitled, Reverence For Life and it aired on April 29, 1965.
However, Dr. Ben Casey beat Dr. Kildare to the controversial 'punch' with an episode that aired on October 9, 1961. It was entitled, But Linda Only Smiled. According to an old story in PEOPLE magazine, Vince Edwards, the man who played Dr. Ben Casey, was attacked by an irate Witness during a publicity appearance at a Tucson, Arizona shopping mall because he was offended by the show.