What would you do if you are John Q
 

WEll, after being ordered to clean the air conditioner today, I saw down with a couple Guiness and flip on the satelitte tv, and here's comes the 2002 film John Q, it had been critisized to death for being shallow and typical hollywood, that's not the point, being a father myself, I ask the question what would I do if I am in John Q's shoes, I would probably do something equally drastic, I would hold up the hospital but I would definitely think of something like robbing the bank or something,

with no sarcasm, the no. 1 cause of death in the city is poverty, it kills

Something desperate, I'm sure.

Ditto on that, also sue the doctor for overlooking the critical problem of the little boy just so the HMO (I think) could save some money and that doctor an "end of the year bonus." That part makes me sick to no end...

Its been a long time since I watched the movie so if any error....my apologies..

Can we get a little background on the plot of the movie?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251160/

I haven't seen the movie, but that seems reasonable enough. If the doctors are really there to help patients, but have some difficulties due to patients' insurance and related monetary matters, then they could certainly use this as an "excuse" to perform the surgery. Hearts are extremely difficult to come by, and it is a shame that many have to give this rare chance up simply because they do not have enough money. I am coming from a viewpoint in which life is more important than money, by the way.

Clearly and simply you do whatever you have to do to save the life of your child. The drama was added to make the film more interesting but the emotions and drive to save his child was VERY accurately portrayed.

He probably in real life would have been able to come up with the money somehow but spent his whole life paying it back.

1st i'd try to raise money legally and if it came to the last resort who knows.

I know I'd be willing to do it and give up my life for my son/daughter if i ever have kids.

Critics dont know anything, i've seen the movie numerous times and enjoy it.

It's not the doctors that are the problem, it's the administrators that care about the bottom line. Doctors have the Hippocratic Oath, where they will not refuse treatment to anyone who needs it. The administrators of the hospitals and the HMOs are the ones who decide who gets what treatment.

Holding the emergency room hostage is sort of like preaching to the choir, most doctors, though there are some exceptions, are in medicine because of the genuine desire to help people. (I know what my doctor pays in Medical Malpractice insurance, plus what the number of patients that the HMOs expect him to treat in a day, he's not in it for the money.)

Isn't this movie based on a true story?