CHRIST THE KING COLLEGE

Name: Amor M. Capangpangan Date: Oct. 16, 2019

Course/yr. level: BSA II

REFLECTION FROM JOHN Q

GUIDE QUESTION

1. Identify 3 moral issues presented in the movie. Support by reviewing the scene in the movie.

The three moral issues presented in the film were (1) institutions refuse to assist John Q’s son with a heart
transplant. (2) John hostage the people inside the hospital and (3) John’s decision to kill himself to be
able to donate his heart to his son. On the first issue help is supposed to be offered to those in need,
especially a young boy who is on the edge of losing his life, institutions have alienated themselves from
doing the right thing like providing that help. Instead, institutions are focusing on profits first, and
ignoring the moral obligations of a person. As the movie points out, the oath doctors and other
physicians take when committing to their career is meaningless due to the systematic way in how
institutions are run. In the second issue, he was faced with doing all he could to save his boy's life and
breaking the law or letting the health care system refuse to treat his son and not doing anything "wrong".
In the third issue, the health care system rejected them already so John thought that there’s no one else
to help his son but himself and that it is his obligation to protect his son whatever it takes.

2. Do you think what John Q did was good or evil? Justify your answer using moral theories

John rule as a father leaves him morally oblige to go all out for his child's welfare. He is duty bound to
make his son's life better. From this perspective, one can conclude that John's response to his ethical
obligation to his son is acceptable. He gives no consideration to the consequences but carries out his
plan with a motive that is purely guided by familial responsibility. His self-sacrificing act of deciding to
give his son his own heart proves how much he values his role and responsibility. The principle of
autonomy acknowledges a person’s freedom over his actions or physical body. This principle simply
accepts John’s decision to make the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved. In the principle of Utilitarianism,
John’s act of hostaging is considered morally acceptable because he did it for the benefit of his son. This
principle does not care whether the benefits are produced by lies, coercion or manipulation. In John’s
case, the health care system rejected to help them in their most difficult time so he had no other option
but to use the people in the hospital to have the administrators’ sympathy and wait for miracle.
Therefore, this principle also accepts John’s decision. On the other hand under morality of dying by Fr.
Morga John’s decision to kill himself to be able to donate his heart to his son is ethically wrong since
suicide is wrong as stated in 2nd principle. Suicide represents a rejection of the value of one's own
existence. The family and friends of the victim will surely suffer for many years. It can be an act of hostility,
an attempt to hurt others.
3. If you were in John’s position what will you do?

You will never really know what you will do in a given situation unless you’re already in that particular
situation. But if I were on John shoes I would not have done the kidnapping or hostaging because I could
not see myself doing such action and I don't want other people to be involved in my problem. Although I
know that it is the life of my son I’m putting at risk, it is also a must to consider the possible effects of my
actions. I guess I will just opt to ask help from my family, friends, relatives, celebrities, politicians and rich
people. I know John did this already and failed but still, I won’t give up. There's always other way around
than putting yourself into trouble. Have faith and courage.