John Q

Q learns that PPO former medical plan has changed and that the hospital wont offer any help. So basically he has to watch his son die with the Hospital Director with her million dollar salary and others not giving a damn. Aint that sweet Capitalism and Greed triumphs over Loyalty and Values in America. Q takes matter into his own hands and well the rest is history. Nick Cassavetes through this powerful, great film brings into the focus the Disarray , and Greed in Medical Care in America. Despite the fact that we boast about being the greatest superpower, WE CANT even take care of our people and, sadly it seems that the person in charge don't care. Talk about impact this movie makes it. Sad to say I don't think the situation will change whether a Democrat or Republic will take office. See John Q!!! I bet Michael Moore has as his next movie will supposedly tackle the Health Care Industry. Cassavetes does a great job here I wouldn't be surprised if Moore borrows a lot for that films from this one.

Also look for James Woods as the equally vile rich pathetic
Dr. Raymond Turner. He is the other part of the problem in
this epidemic of greedy HMO's who don't care about the patient.

Ray Liotta coming his pathetic performance in "Hannibal" gives
a somewhat better average performance as the corrupted Chief
Police along with his main kissbutt sidekick LT. Frank Grimes
played by Robert Duvall.

I've had to deal myself since my son was born. My son has Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. His skin basically falls apart at the slightest touch. It is awful, brutal (see some clinical pics at my website, silviaskingdom.com). The only treatment that my son has is basically take care of the wounds, which cover, at times, as much as 60-75% of his body. Some of these wounds are chronic and take months to heal. Taking care of wounds is vital because if a bad infection occurs, my son could die. Infection is the number one killer of persons diagnosed with my son's condition. You would think that insurance companies would cover the medical supplies, the ointments, the bandages and everything involved in taking care of the wounds, but the reality is, the vast majority of HMOs do not. They don't because bandages and related products to care for wounds are 'over the counter', hence not covered under insurances.

Sounds crazy? It is. And there is nothing I can do about it. Some states, if the income is low enough, provide some services that include coverage for bandages, and that is what fortunately is saving us, because I could never afford to pay the tens of thousands of dollars it takes each year just to purchase the various skin care products my son needs. I know what you're thinking... there is no way bandages cost that much! Yes they do actually... for example: an 8x10 sheet of Mepitel for deep wound coverage is $40. A roll of 1" gauze to bandage my son's hand is $1, and he goes through 4-6 of those per week, and that is just on his hands!

It gets crazier... the various HMOs that we've had over the years have also denied to have my son seen by specialists too because they were 'out of network'. Of course they are out of network, my son's condition is one in a million, we can't expect to see a 'specialist' on this condition in every corner of the country, are we?

I know what you're thinking... it's all my fault, yeah, the evil HMOs -- how dare they actually have the audacity to enforce the contracts people choose to purchase! Choose to purchase? I never had that choice. I never had the choice to choose between HMOs, let alone even have the opportunity to get PPOs. Medical care won't be legitimate in this country until we stop seeing ten-dollar boxes of Kleenex on the bills. Everyone gasps when I tell them how much my son's power chair cost... yes, $7,000, and there is no way it's worth that much. It is all outrageous, and the movie John Q. eloquently and effectively addresses the needs of families in a most poignant manner.