I agree that Jed and Tracy’s plan was rather unconvincing. Leaving aside the law and the risks involved, the costs to the two individuals were simply too high. I believe 20 million dollars were worth a lot more in those days, but still hardly enough to justify the costs. In the film, there was one scene between Jed and Andy where they agreed that they won’t be willing to lose a finger for a million dollars. But in the film, what Jed and Tracy were prepared to give up – even if the scam was successful – was far, far more.
In the film, Jed gave Tracy injections that caused ovarian cysts and led to her hospitalization. So we are to believe that the plan involved Tracy’s marrying a man she didn’t really love, and then suffering pains from the drug and eventually losing both of her ovaries so that she would never be able to have children? As for Jed, he was presumably one of the nation’s best surgeons in his field, and in the film he was exceedingly cocky towards the other staff (for example that bespectacled doctor) and was said to have a “God Complex”. Even if the plan was successful, Jed had lost his reputation and was disgraced in his profession. He probably would never have been able to work as a surgeon again. I believe for a person who took so much pride in his own achievements, the costs would have been considered unacceptably high. Lastly, it was by no means certain that they could get 20 million dollars. Suppose the result was a lengthy lawsuit? What if they got only 10 million dollars, and after bribing Andy had only 5 million to share between them? What would Jed have done if Andy simply refused to sign to give permission to take out Tracy's second ovary? To me, the costs and risks of such a plan are so high and the gains are so uncertain that no sane person would consider it.
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