Ethical Issues in John Q

The movie John Q, stars Denzel Washington as John Quincy Archibald, presents a basis for analysis of the legal and ethical issues facing society. The most prominent legal issue in the film is when John Q. carries a gun to the hospital. It is clear that he wants to commit a crime when he carries the gun into the hospital. John then uses the gun to hold patients and physicians hostage in the ER. He demands that in exchange for the hostages, his son, Michael, be given first priority on the list of heart transplant patients. This situation comes about after Michael, who suffers from a serious heart condition, is denied medical attention since the insurance policy cannot cover the costly procedure (John Q, 2002). After John tries every avenue of raising money but falls short, he decides to take the hospital hostage until his son is placed on the organ recipient list. John also plans to commit suicide at the hospital so that Dr. Turner can get his heart and transplant it to his son. John saw this as a last option to help his son’s life but by doing so he would be committing a crime.

Ethical issues emerge in the film most notably when the doctors at Hope Memorial Hospital deny Michael a chance for a heart operation. Since John Q’s insurance policy could not cover the costly operation, the hospital denies his son a chance for heart transplant and refuse to help. John Q.’s employer changes his insurance plan from PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) to HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) without informing him and John finds out only when he goes to discuss his health benefits (John Q, 2002). This was unethical of the HR to change John’s plan without thoroughly explaining it to him. Another ethical issue arises when one of the nurses reveals to John Q. that HMO physicians get annual bonuses for not checking patients with serious illness who cannot afford to pay for their treatment. They basically stabilize them and discharge them to go and die at home. This...