3I

Do you think the doctor did the medical tests on Billy Falcouner? Why?

No. I think the doc 'assumed' Billy has terminal lung cancer and wanted to save Billy the expense of the tests - I don't think there was medical insurance by that time time (?).
I'm not convinced there was anything malicious in the doc's actions, only possibly negligence.

I hope so but it does not seem like it. Unless he did run them and Billy is just too far gone with cancer.

no. I think he did just the minimum. As Bill's wife said, he lost his insurance when he lost his job. Plus the doctor is a general practitioner and may not be up on the current testing but he should have referred him.

I can't imagine why he wouldn't run the tests. He obviously has cancer since he's gone downhill so quickly. Even if Billy chose to decline treatment it seems like the preliminary tests would have been done.

There was no money or insurance to pay for these test and the doctor knew it. He didn't run anything... just made the obvious diagnosis and now is just waiting for Bill to die. He didn't even give him a placebo.

Was it incompetence, because Billy didn’t have the money or out and out racism! Or possibly even a combination of these. I certainly don’t think he ever intended to run these tests. Life in that area is cheap for some in the community. 🤬😡

>7 Andrew-theQM: I gave the doc the benefit of the doubt, maybe I was wrong... I'd hoped racism would NOT be a factor.

>7 Andrew-theQM: >8 Sergeirocks: I believe it was the lack of funds more than racism in this particular case. To try to get medical attention or not is a real choice that some people have to make every day...unfortunate. Every hospital and most doctors offices in the U.S. have signs up that say you are entitled to medical care even if you don't have insurance or money...but these people all know it isn't free and the bills are going to start coming eventually.

>8 Sergeirocks: >9 Carol420: Must be a terrible way for some people to have to live (or die!). I wonder how many early deaths this leads to. 😢

>8 Sergeirocks: Given the pervading atmosphere of the area I feel racism is a real possibility.