Coma (1978)
Richard Widmark: Dr. George Harris
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Quotes
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Dr. George A. Harris : Our society faces momentous decisions. Decisions about the right to die. About abortion. About terminal illness, prolonged coma, transplantation. Decisions about life and death. But society isn't deciding. Congress isn't deciding. The courts aren't deciding. Religion isn't deciding. Why? Because society is leaving it up to us, the experts. The doctors.
Dr. Susan Wheeler : You're crazy.
Dr. George A. Harris : Americans spend $125 billion a year on health. More than defense. Because Americans believe in medical care. These great hospital complexes are the cathedrals of our age. Billions of dollars, thousands of beds. A whole nation of sick people turning to us for help.
Dr. Susan Wheeler : You, you ought to see somebody.
Dr. George A. Harris : They're children, Sue. They trust us. We can't tell them everything. Our job is to make things easier for them. I'm sure you agree.
Dr. Susan Wheeler : You're killing people.
Dr. George A. Harris : We must always take the long view. Not of the individual, but of society as a whole. Because medicine is now a great social force. The individual is too small.
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Dr. George A. Harris : No decision is easy, Sue. It only looks that way when you're young. When you're older, everything is complicated. There is no black and white, only gray.
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Dr. George A. Harris : Somebody has to make these decisions. We can't wait around forever. If society won't decide, we'll decide. We'll make the hard decisions.
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Dr. George A. Harris : We have certain constraints imposed on us. One is the state law concerning privacy in computer data access. An unauthorized entry was made last night.
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Dr. George A. Harris : You know what happened to Greenly?
Dr. Susan Wheeler : Yes.
Dr. George A. Harris : What happened?
Dr. Susan Wheeler : She died.
Dr. George A. Harris : How do you feel about that?
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Dr. George A. Harris : Sue, right now, I can protect you - because you're good. And frankly, because you're a woman.
Dr. Susan Wheeler : I don't want concessions.
Dr. George A. Harris : Well, at the moment, you'd better take any you can get.
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Dr. George A. Harris : Well, I could use a drink. How about you? Scotch?
Dr. Susan Wheeler : Whatever you're having, sir.
Dr. George A. Harris : I like a woman who drinks Scotch.
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Dr. George A. Harris : Too many of us shut ourselves off from our feelings. We don't explore them. We don't understand them. We don't understand ourselves. It's the toughest thing about our profession.
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Dr. George A. Harris : It isn't a question - of why you wanted it, it's how you got it.
