MovieChat Forums > Witness (1985) Discussion > What is the reason behind this?

What is the reason behind this?

posted 15 years ago by snowfairy123183-1
5 replies | jump to latest

What is the reason for why hospitals are required to report a gunshot wound. Why Book refused to go to the hospital.

[–] empressjenf 15 years ago

I assume because they want to know if there is a person out there with a gun, or if the police shot the gun shot victim. If the police shot him/her, then likely that person was running from the police and is a criminal, and they will want to arrest him/her.

I AM the Darkside.

[–] snowfairy123183-1 15 years ago

Ah, didn't think of that. Good point. In this case, the police were the killers. Normally, Book would have gone to the hospital, but in this case, he'd rather die, than allow the killers to find him (and thus, the little boy as well).

[–] l4-2 11 years ago

Sorry for the very late reply- but it's simply state law, so that crimes can not be concealed by someone who is afraid to get the law involved or wants to take the law in their own hands.

[–] agspiess 11 years ago

I suppose he could have gone into a hospital as a John Doe, but a mysterious gun shot victim may still draw attention.

[–] palisade-1 11 years ago

Going in as John Doe would not have worked, as his fingerprints would have been on file and would probably have been taken at the hospital had he not provided proof of identity.