Private Santiago displays all the common symptoms of a potential heart problem, yet our "expert" Dr Stone fails to diagnose his case and gives him a clean bill of health ? That part of the plot just doesn't make any sense...
shareGood point. In reality, one would think that additional medical experts would be called in as witnesses.
It's not clear from the film whether Stone was less than competent, or whether he was pressured by Jessup or other military commanders to say that Santiago was fit for normal duty.
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You got your mind right, Luke?
Thanks for your reply. Well, Dr Stone was an internist and was called an expert in his field by the prosecutor. No, neither Jessup nor anyone else would have any reason to pressure him into declaring Santiago fit for duty prior to the incident..What would they gain from doing something like that ?
What I don't comprehend is how come Dr.Stone ignores all the common indicators of a potential coronary condition and issues a clean bill of health ? It doesn't take an expert to tell you should see a cardiologist asap if you complain of chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue !
It doesn't take an expert to tell you should see a cardiologist asap if you complain of chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue !
The dialogue reveals that Santiago was complaining of chest pains, shortness of breath and fatigue. Medical symptoms are invariably inconclusive, a condition is diagnosed solely on the basis of an appropriate physical examination which the doctor conducted revealing a clean bill of health. Restricting him from running over five miles was mere prudence, just like your GP finding nothing but telling you to take it easy for a while. It's common medical practice. To diagnose a condition he didn't detect would have been nonsensical. In fact If anything Santiago's symptoms were as a result of stress, a product of his circumstances. Also bear in mind that the examination was performed before any conspiracy took place therefore the doctor, whatever about lying after the fact, had no reason to fabricate anything at that time.
Ultimately it could be argued that Kaffee was badgering the doctor not to prove a heart condition but merely to disprove poison. 'We just need to show that Santiago could have died from anything other than poison.'
I've had a lot of sobering thoughts in my time Del Boy, it's them that started me drinking!
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It doesn't make sense to me that the Commander continues to state that some exotic, "virtually undetectable" poison was placed on the rag, and caused Santiago's death.Well the whole interaction between Jo and The Judge suggests that the court accepts the Doctor is entitled to give his opinion. In the context of his testimony he's insisting on a logical deduction not a fact and it's Kaffee's questions that prompt the insistence rather than the Dr's whim.
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If it wasn't poison, the doctor could be in trouble. He was the medical authority who declared Santiago fit.
As you can see by my report I took a proactive approach to his medical complaints by restricting his exercise regimen and conducted initial testing which proved negative. Based on the negative test results and the nature of the acidosis, I opined that a poison was most likely used.".Doesn't he say this more or less though?
Definitely less. He didn't really tie in the reason it was poison, against Santiago's clean bill of health.
Doc basically dumped everything out for the prosecution and then (as a defense attorney's supposed to do) Kaffee deconstructed the doctor's testimony, chipping away at it. But the doctor didn't effectively defend himself as Kaffee attacked his competence and his character.
I don’t need you to tell me how good my coffee is..
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The thing is malingering is a real thing in the defense force. Statistically, it's more likely that Santiago is malingering rather than suffering from a real illness.
Diagnosis of illnesses can be difficult... especially if you're already half convinced he's malingering.
So, yes, poor, but not unrealistic.
SpiltPersonality
It seems absurd to me that Santiago would make it THIS FAR as a Marine! Certainly, basic training would have revealed that this kid had a problem, and Jessop would certainly have wanted him out.
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