The Archibalds face tragedy in the movie John Q when it is discovered that their son has serious heart problems. The institutions in the film, however, reflect the current reality of our society and pose an ethical dilemma. Even though institutions should be helping those who are in need, particularly a young man on the brink, the institutions themselves have refused to do what’s right. Institutions are more concerned with profits than moral obligations. The movie shows that the oaths doctors take to commit to their careers are meaningless because of the way institutions operate. The main character John Archibald may be considered immoral by some for the way that he handled certain situations such as holding an emergency department with a pistol and keeping the hostages. But others might consider the fact Archibald did not do this just to protect his son. John Q’s actions were not only to protect his son but also to rebel against a corrupt system. He was also fighting to have his son treated and to be able to fight the companies that refused to provide care for his dying son because of his financial status. The ethical and legal issues in the film John Q will be explored by this paper. This includes a detailed analysis of John Q’s process for making decisions. Then, we will provide a quick update on what happened in the movie. It will focus on both the positive and negative outcomes of events that were depicted.
The main problem in the film is that the hospital board refuses to help John Q’s child with a heart-transplant. John Q was in a financial crisis, so the board refused to even add the son’s information to the list for heart donors, much less complete the transplant. It is easy to imagine things as if you were the hospital. You would have to think about the costs involved, such as the salaries that doctors receive, the drugs they use, the machines in hospitals and other expenses. The immoral tone in the film was not set by the hospital’s strict policies. The directors and hospital staff handled the problem in a way that was immoral. Rebecca Payne delivered the terrible news about John Q’s son in an uncaring manner. Rebecca said that the son’s heart condition is irreversible and he must have a transplant ASAP. He also warned them to keep their blood pressure above 60. If it drops below this level, there is a chance he may not make it. Rebecca immediately informed the family of the news without allowing the family to grieve. John Q’s insurer would not pay for the heart transplant. A $75,000 deposit was required to list his son in the database to find matching donors.
The hospital’s actions show that it is a bourgeois institution, just like the ones Karl Marx described. They are able to feed on the profits and funds of those who need help but do not offer basic healthcare in return. This particular hospital, as shown in the movie, performed more than 500 heart transplants per year at an average cost of $250,000. They refused to give up some profits, even though they were saving a child’s life. John Q realized that there was no way he could save the money to pay for his son’s surgery. He did everything possible to raise it. John Q became desperate after the hospital began to keep taking money and threatened to discharge his child if the funds were not paid. He accepted money as charity from his family and friends, signed up for loans, etc. John Q’s words are sincere, even though the hospital has taken more than $15,000, at this point. The hospital, blinded by greed and money, refuses to assist John Q’s child. The viewer learns that his son’s sickness could have been avoided if the previous doctor had mentioned it. John Q, for example, learns coldly that his son was sick, but no one told him. This is done to make more money.
John Q held an entire emergency department hostage, and in the end he forced them to add his son’s surname to that list. John Q’s actions are wrong in general, but he is the most fair and understanding “criminal”, that the hostages have seen. John Q’s good nature left his hostages stunned. He did everything from ensuring every patient received the right care for their illnesses and injuries, to providing meals for all. At this point, the viewer understood that John Q was not trying to harm anyone. He just wanted to make his son feel better. Rebecca Payne finally changes her mind, and John Q’s son receives the heart-transplant.
John Q. is a controversial film that provokes thought. It is a film that leaves viewers horrified by the number of unethical organisations in the world today. Institutions alienate people by presenting them as red or green damages or profits. John Q. was a kind and generous person, but he fell into a life of crime and desperation when his basic human needs were not met. John Q does not only bring this topic to the forefront of society’s consciousness, it also encourages people to fight for their rights.
