Maria Dizzia helps Olivia Benson expose corrupt doctor on Law & Order: SVU

Maria Dizzia guest-starred in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27's 'Hubris' as Dr. Ashley Mancini, assisting Captain Olivia Benson and the SVU squad in unraveling a foster‑system corruption case. The episode centers on 15-year-old Riley Williams, who was removed from her home after a broken arm was judged abusive; Benson reopens the case after learning the removal stemmed from a remote assessment by pediatric specialist Dr.

Bethany Allen. Benson meets Dr. Ashley Mancini at Riley’s hospital; Ashley says the fracture could be a sports injury or from warding off a blow and notes that Allen—though widely respected—had moved between many hospitals. After reviewing Allen’s files, Ashley discovered Allen had omitted a positive test for a congenital clotting disorder from her final report.

With that evidence, Benson brings Allen to court, where A.D.A. Sonny Carisi cross-examines her. Allen lies on the stand, uses racist rhetoric when cornered, and ultimately agrees to revoke her medical license to avoid charges. Dizzia is no stranger to TV audiences: she’s known for roles such as Polly in Orange Is the New Black and Mrs.

Down in 13 Reasons Why, has recurred on series including New Amsterdam, Emergence, The Undoing, The Staircase, Life & Beth and Agatha All Along, and has guest-starred on shows like Fringe, Elementary, The Blacklist and The Good Wife. She also previously appeared on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2006) and Law & Order (2008).

maria dizzia, olivia benson, law & order: svu, svu season 27, dr. ashley mancini, dr. bethany allen, riley williams, foster system corruption, congenital clotting disorder, perjury charges, medical license revocation, shaken baby syndrome