MovieChat Forums > Requiem for a Dream (2000) Discussion > the last 15 minutes had a scene that str...

the last 15 minutes had a scene that struck me as very unrealistic

posted 7 years ago by a_very_nice_girl2
14 replies | jump to latest

When Harry went to the emergency room and the doctor seen his arm. Of course, he grabbed the bottles of morphine as Harry was obviously an addict, but would a doctor call the police on someone who had gangrene in is arm which is life threatening? They took him to prison without treating him? He did not have drugs on him, he was not distributing he just showed signs of addiction. Is that a crime? I would think any doctor would have admitted him and taken care of his arm and then put him into rehab.

[–] joke_ster36-2 7 years ago

I think the book explains why they were arrested I think they had warrants.

[–] Calledforblackup (88) 2 months ago

This is why the movie sucks because WHEN were we given the notion they had warrants lmfao

[–] MrMan71 7 years ago

I've been a 911 dispatcher for 14 years, so I've seen how this is usually handled. They would treat him, but would also call the police if there was suspicion of drugs. But they certainly would not refuse to treat him. And the police would not transport him to jail until after he had been treated.

[–] femmemuscle (110) 6 years ago

It's Florida.. They're backwards..

seriously..

[–] Galilguy (2327) a year ago

It's New York. An extremely backwards place.

[–] mitzibishi (1616) a year ago

Just watched it. They drove 6000 miles South of New York on the way to Miami

[–] Galilguy (2327) a year ago

You must have watched something else..

[–] UserNameExists (58) 10 months ago

Watch again, right before his arm is shown that 2nd time... "Wayans says we're 600 miles closer to Florida", and Leto complains "we're also 600 miles further away from New York". Right after they go to the hospital. So they were in some Southern state. Also the guards..."you New York dope fiends"

So many jump cuts in this movie make details easy to miss.

[–] TaRaNRoD (1579) 6 years ago

Yeah... I think too. But it served to the drama for a really dark and depressing movie. But this is what made it so powerful.

[–] Bloodworth79 (5563) 4 years ago

When do you think this movie took place? Early 90s.

Back then the justice system sent more drug addicts to jail and not rehab.

It was a tougher time and no messing around.

I had numerous friends get arrested who were heroin addicts.
I asked if they get medical treatment when they withdraw...nope. got to sweat and sh*t it out in jail in front of everyone.

[–] BreakbeatSavant (413) 4 years ago

Well I've got news for you. Not much changed in that respect from the early 90s. If you're a junkie who ends up in jail you're not getting anything to help your withdraw.

But the point is he was already in the hospital with gangrene in his arm. All doctors take the Hippocratic Oath. It would be a gross violation of all medical and professional ethics for any doctor, let alone an ER doctor, not to treat a patient with gangrene in his arm before allowing cops to haul them off. I can't see that happening in any decade of the modern era, not the 50s during the Drugstore Cowboy days, let alone the early 90s when grunge and heroin were king.

[–] Bloodworth79 (5563) 4 years ago

That true...

Maybe the dr was fed up with seeing junkies.

Kind of like the dr from hobo with a shotgun who comes out and says , I'm sick and tired of you fu*king junkies...

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

No insurance

[–] WarrenPeace (2267) a year ago

I agree and I noticed and wondered about that to when I watched it.