Denzel Washington as John Q. Archibald, is the star of the film, a Chicago factory worker
whose apparently healthy son collapses during a Little League game. John Q. and his wife
Denise (Kimberly Elise) race the kid to an emergency room, where his signs are stabilized
and then a cardiologist (James Woods) explains that young Mike’s heart is three times
normal size.
There are two options: a heart transplant or optimizing Mike’s “quality of life” during the
“months … weeks … days” left to him. Joining the doctor is appropriately named hospital
administrator Rebecca Payne (Anne Heche), who already knows the Archibalds have no
money, and argues for the “quality of life” choice.John Q. thinks he’s covered by insurance,
but no: His Company switched to a new HMO that has a $20,000 ceiling, and since John
has been downsized to 20 hours a week, he’s lucky to have that much coverage. Payne
demands a $75,000 down payment on the $250,000 operation, and explains the harsh
realities of life for “cash patients.” John Q. considers taking the kid to County Hospital, but
is urged by a friendly hospital employee to stay right there at the ominously named Crisis
of Hope Memorial Hospital.
John Q. exhausts all his options and eventually pulls a gun and takes hostages, demanding
that his son he put at the top of the list of eligible recipients. (He wouldn’t be jumping the
queue, because the Heche character explains that Mike is so sick, he would automatically
be the first recipient–if the money were available.) He took a pregnant mother who has
