John Q Ending Explained
Be brave and optimistic. That is the lesson of the 2002 medical thriller kidnapping film ‘John Q.’ at the end of the crisis. The story is given a somber urgency by actor-director Nick Cassavetes. What begins as a simple hostage situation quickly escalates into a national humanitarian crisis.
The plot revolves around John Q, who takes multiple hostages in the emergency room of Hope Memorial Hospital in the hopes of a miracle. He demands a heart for his son, which appears absurd to law enforcement and hospital officials at first. Denzel Washington leads the cast in this emotive, passionate, and reactive mixture. However, the film leaves the audience with a number of unanswered questions. Let us aid you if you are busy remembering the ending. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
Synopsis of the John Q Plot
With his wife Denise and son Michael, John Quincy Archibald leads a generally fulfilled lower-middle-class life. He is an amazing parent and spouse because he makes the family laugh even when things are tough. To their dismay, John and Denise go to Michael’s school baseball game, but Michael collapses on the ground during a run. Michael is sent to Hope Memorial Hospital. Following preliminary examinations, the physicians admit Michael to the intensive care unit while John and Denise speak with the authorities.
Rebecca Payne, the hospital’s director, informs the family that Michael requires a heart transplant. Although there are other ways to extend Michael’s life, he would not be able to live a healthy life without a new heart. However, John’s insurance does not cover the treatment, and the hospital charges a whopping $75,000 simply to put Michael’s name on the transplant list. With his back to the wall, John is hoping for a miracle. Meanwhile, a distressing call from Denise prompts John to take drastic action. He enters the ER armed with a gun and takes hostages, causing a commotion.
Ending of John Q: What is Michael’s medical condition? Why isn’t John’s insurance covering the costs?
In a conference, Dr. Raymond Turner informs John and Denise that Michael has a heart that is about three times the size of the typical, causing pulmonary edema. Because Michael’s heart isn’t purifying enough blood, it becomes clogged at the back of his lungs like a sponge. Cardiomegaly is the medical word for an enlarged heart. Heart enlargement may not be a condition in and of itself, but it may be the result of another medical condition. Patients with cardiomegaly can live on drugs, but because Michael’s heart is about three times the size of the average, he needs to have it replaced.
Replacement operations, on the other hand, are optional, as instructed by Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). As a result, even though Michael may die if he does not have a good heart, the surgery is ruled elective. Furthermore, because it is an optional operation, it is not covered by insurance. Furthermore, these procedures are invasive, and an insufficient match may result in the patient’s death. As a result, the hospital has a policy of requiring financial contributions from individuals undergoing such procedures. With the financial issues, John feels obligated to kidnap the doctor.
Whose Heart Is Michael Getting?
When everything else fails, John is adamant on killing himself in order to keep his son alive. Although he is not an expert, he is aware that he shares the same blood group as his son — B+. John also claims that his tissues are comparable to Michael’s. As a result, John wishes for Dr. Raymond Turner to undertake the procedure and donate his heart to his kid. Although the hostages are in a state of amazement and awe, John is more concerned with Michael’s recuperation than with his own survival.
Dr. Turner accepts John’s proposal to conduct the procedure, despite his reservations at first. However, in order to avoid legal difficulties, John need two witnesses. Julie and Max, a security guard, come to the rescue. In the Emergency Room, he bids Michael farewell while teaching him some important life lessons. John unhooks the gun, exposing that he only has one bullet. On an emergency bed, John plays Russian Roulette with himself, and he only has one shot.
Doctors in another institution, on the other hand, discover a functional heart that originally belonged to the woman who died in the early vehicle crash, credited only as “Beautiful BMW Driver.” Payne sends the fax to the hospital’s doctor, who hurries to inform John of the news. Rebecca, on the other hand, contacts Denise to inform her that they have a heart. Denise phones John, who is on the verge of committing suicide. Denise’s phone call is cut off by John, but the doctor arrives at the ER with the bad news.
As a result, John releases the hostages while remaining present at Michael’s surgery. The procedure is a success, thanks to Dr. Turner’s use of scissors and scalpels. Meanwhile, Lester Matthews, a virtuous man, stands in for John and smiles his way to police detention. Except for Grimes, no one notices this happen, and Grimes joins John outside the operating room in handcuffs.
What Will Happen to John?
While Michael is still alive, the hostage incident sends shockwaves across the country, with the public opinion leaning behind John. Rather than blaming John, many are questioning the healthcare system as a whole. Above all, the story vividly depicts how 40 million US individuals (as of 2009) lack health insurance, as John’s desperation exemplifies. Nas, the famed rapper, even shows out to offer his support for the cause. With all of the public support and the possibility of a police blunder (which may kill John), he cannot face a life sentence. Lt. Frank Grimes leads John to the courtroom in the last scenes of the film.
The jury finds John not guilty of attempted murder and armed criminal action since his gun was empty and he threw the sniper’s gun away on public display. However, John has been convicted of kidnapping and false detention and faces a sentence of three to five years in prison. The court adjourns the hearing, and we do not know what his actual punishment will be, but the lawyer promises John that she would try to negotiate a two-year term. Simultaneously, an adoring Denise expresses her love and support for John. As the story concludes, we can deduce that John eventually performs a miracle.
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Genre: Movie Explainers
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Actors: Denzel Washington, Eddie Griffin, James Woods, Kevin Connolly, Kimberly Elise, Robert Duvall, Shawn Hatosy
Country: United States
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