CHARLOTTE D. ESPINOSA,R.N.,R.M.

October 20, 2011

MSN-CLDH

John Q
A Reaction Paper

“My son is sick and I just need you to help him. Sick…help. Sick-
HELP.”These were the lines uttered by John Quincy Archibald while hostaging the police who
tried to killed him. He voiced out his demand for help not truly to show violence or harm to
innocent people. Someone is sick and we must be there to help- rule of humanity. Isn’t it? How
come that in reality, as shown in the movie; a hospital with its finest doctors and nurses and with
quality and complete equipment to offer effective health care service cannot offer to save a life?
John Q undergone a difficult situation because on one hand, a father should
be willing to do anything to save his child’s life and on the other hand, he should not endanger
others to do so. His health insurance has been changed from PPO (Preferred Provider
Organization) to HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) and the new policy does not cover
the transplant surgery; a procedure that could save the life of John Q’s son. This leaves them to
raise 30% of $ 250,000.00 in order to get their son’s name on the list of likely recipients of an
available heart.
The movie illustrates the injustices of society and how the health care system
works. The administration and management of the hospital care are so greedy and money and
profit centered. Health care services seem not so accessible for all. They want the working man-
John Q to survive and raise a family making enough money just to get by. Health care service
was supposed to be altruistic in nature and yet in reality just as shown in the movie, hospitals
nowadays, seem to be business- centered. The rates go up every year and the benefits get less
and less. In the movie, John Q’s insurance company would not help him with his son’s heart
transplant. In my perspective, health care insurance helps for small things but when it comes to
really needing help, they want to back off and not help.
The story makes me more aware and conscious of one of one of the main
problems of the society. The health care system is an ongoing problem with the country and I
think it will always be if no appropriate action will be carefully planned and implemented.
The film was totally thought provoking. It presents a perfect opportunity to
talk about the health care system not only on the United States but also here in the Philippines.
The current system is not fair. We all know that saving a life is an expected and a must-do thing
in the health care profession no matter what kind of circumstance.
“The Hippocratic Oath becomes hypocrite-ic oath now, huh?!”.This is one
of the dialogues presented by one of the hostages of John Q, having the knowledge of HMO’s
connection to doctors and hospital policies. Even if doctors want to do a procedure to a patient
who is needing help even if it means saving a life, unless covered by HMO insurance. They
would not be able to offer their services.
 HMOs play a big role in this problem. The problem with managed health
care is addressed only tangential, with a small point that Mike’s problem (John Q’s child) could
potentially have been detected if proper testing was done. This is one of the major problems with
the health and insurance industries and if you are on HMO plan, it behooves you to be aware of
your own health and ask the doctor to make the requested tests. Failing that, there are plans
( with a higher premium) that will provide the care you need. The bigger and more general
problem, that of universal health care, for those who cannot afford quality insurance, which is
convoluted by the HMOs. Issue on the film is addressed directly with a lot of preaching but no
real solutions are proposed.
The movie provides a real life look at what millions of people face in each
nation with being underinsured or uninsured and how it brings to light just how frustrated the
public has become and judging by the audience reactions around the nation. It can be seen in the
movie that individuals of lower socioeconomic status in the country have lower levels of
insurance coverage (since the benefits depends of what kind of job and position you have) and
less access to adequate health care and in contrast, individuals of higher standing performing
jobs are likely to have more beneficial health insurance. Nowadays, the world revolves on
money. If you do not have the money, you do not have the power.
Society is reaching a funding crisis with regards to health care that must
be faced. A right to health is an interesting concept, as it supposes that somewhere in society
could organize itself appropriately, it could deliver this service to its citizens.
The movie tackles about something that is very important that awareness is a
must and this is HEALTH. It points out that we are all responsible for our health and we all
should be one. We should have one vision and have sense of responsibility for our health. I
consider that the government is the greatest institution that should take action with this problem.
Selfishness and corruption set aside. People from all classes of society being equally prioritized
in health care. That should be the paramount vision and goal of the country. We should be
thinking of values not of value.

CENTRAL LUZON DOCTORS HOSPITAL EDUCATIOBAL INSTITUTION

 San Pablo, Tarlac City
Graduate Studies Department
S.Y. 2011-2012, First Semester

Bioethics

JOHN Q
A Reaction Paper

Submitted by:
Charlotte D. Espinosa, R.N., R.M.
MSN-CLDH

Submitted to:
Fides Liwliwa Alzate, M.D., R.N., M.A.N.
Professor

October 20, 2011