Topic > The film John Q: ethical dilemmas in a healthcare context

Index IntroductionJohn G: Ethical analysisThe principle of maleficenceThe question of justiceConclusionIntroductionThe film John Q, directed by Nick Cassavetes, explores the gripping story of the Archibald family. John Q Archibald, his wife Denise and son Michael are an ordinary family, but their lives change drastically when one day Michael collapses while playing baseball. Rushing him to the hospital, John Q and Denise worry about their son. After several tests, they are informed by Dr. Turner and hospital administrator, Rebecca Payne, that Michael has cardiomegaly and will need a heart transplant. Desperate to keep their son alive, John Q and Denise race to get the money they need to keep him in hospital. John Q tries to speak to their insurance company but is told that their policy does not cover the hospital bill. John Q becomes frustrated and dismayed that he pays for health insurance every month but won't be able to use it to help his son. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay The hospital doesn't wait for the Archibalds to receive the $75,000 down payment and decides to release Michael from the hospital, essentially telling John Q and Denise that their son will go home and die. Not wanting to give up his son, John Q makes the courageous decision to enter the hospital with a gun and collect hostages, one of whom is Dr. Turner, in the emergency room. He asks that his son be placed on the recipient list as soon as possible. As the day goes on, the police and SWAT try to make plans on how to get John Q out without hurting the hostages. However, John Q doesn't want to hurt anyone, he simply wants to save his son and eventually releases some hostages in exchange for his son's name to be put on the list. Ultimately, once Michael is returned to the hospital, John Q reveals his intention to commit suicide so that his heart can be used to save his son. He convinces Dr. Turner to perform the operation and the hostages to witness her act. In a climactic twist, Denise discovers that there is a donor heart that can be used to save Michael. He rushes to try to tell John Q, but is shown in the scene holding the gun to his head. Just in time, he stops John Q from ending his life and, miraculously, Michael receives his heart and is saved. However, John Q must now go to court and await his sentence. The public has mixed feelings about it; some think that John Q should go to prison for his actions while others believe that his actions were justified due to his intention to save his son. Throughout this storyline, viewers are given examples of ethical healthcare dilemmas woven into the Archibald family's life and navigating healthcare for their son. John G: Ethical Analysis Ethical dilemmas are situations that arise when there are conflicting values ​​and cause distress and controversy for the people involved – in this case, healthcare professionals and patients. In the healthcare industry, there are several important ethical issues that are carefully studied due to their abundant yet controversial nature. Issues that fall under these ethical principles are often found widely in hospitals across the United States, where hospitals find themselves trying to strike a balance. These issues include autonomy, nonmaleficence, and justice. Autonomy involves allowing the patient to be included in decisions about all aspects of their care. Nonmaleficence is theconcept of ethics in which the healthcare professional must try to balance the risks and benefits of treatment without causing any harm. Finally, justice is fairness, especially regarding the fair distribution of healthcare resources. The Maleficence Principle One of the main ethical problems represented in this film is the maleficence principle. As mentioned above, this principle involves the idea of ​​“do no harm,” which was contained in the original Hippocratic Oath taken by healthcare professionals such as doctors. When the hospital decides to let Michael go because they are tired of waiting for John Q to pay the retainer, you could say that "do no harm" has been forgotten because they discharge Michael from the hospital when he is not in the hospital. stable condition. With the condition of cardiomegaly, the heart becomes enlarged. This may be due to an underlying disease, such as heart valve disease. In the movie, they don't mention what caused Michael's cardiomegaly, and only mention that he needs a heart transplant. His condition and treatment aren't focused on much in the film, so it's not disclosed what the doctors were doing to treat Michael. By sending Michael home, the family essentially has to wait for Michael to die. This is harmful because the family does not want this option and would like to save their son, but the hospital insists on discharging Michael. Help should be offered to those who need it, but since insurance doesn't cover the surgery, they send him home to die. More research on this ethical topic needs to be implemented so that new strategies can be developed to help nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals work together to resolve these dilemmas and reduce harm to patients. This will help patients, like a patient like Michael, get better care that focuses on patient safety and care while reducing harm. The question of justice Another important ethical question presented in the film is the question of justice, the fair distribution of resources to the population. . Since John Q and his family do not have enough money to pay for the surgery, the hospital requires the Archibalds to make a cash payment. This seems rather counterintuitive because the family cannot afford the surgery but is required to pay thirty percent of the cost just to put their child's name on the list of organ transplant recipients. When it comes to resource allocation, dilemmas are often numerous. As seen in the film, when it comes to organ donation, the organs must match those of the recipient and it is often a list system. This can create several challenges for organ transplantation, including how to allocate organs when the number of possible recipients outweighs the number of donors. This is difficult because many families and patients find themselves in similar situations to the Archibalds. The list of organ recipients can often be long and the process of being placed on the organ recipient list is not always guaranteed. A patient must be referred to a doctor and other factors, such as insurance, must be considered. Additionally, healthcare decisions are often influenced by a person's financial situation. For example, in a study focused on the relationship between a patient's insurance status and access to care, researchers found uninsured patients were more likely to be transferred to another hospital despite the hospital's capacity. This creates an ethical dilemma related to justice because this does not allow for adequate and fair care for everyone, but rather only for those who can afford it, and patients may be sent back to.