Dr. Stovall, a prestigious surgeon in Albany Georgia, thought he had the perfect life. He had a beautiful family, money, power, and success until one night. Dr. Stovall throws all caution to the wind…this one night causes his past to catch up with him, his reputation flawed, and his family almost destroyed. Throughout every ordeal Dr. Stovall encounters, he learns a valuable lesson.
Growing up in York, Alabama with brilliant parents, and the only student that never wore a pair of blue jeans throughout high school and college, I knew that I would be a successful business man. After finishing Sumter County High School, I attented Alabama A&M University in Huntsville Alabama. I had the opportunity to take college courses and to work in the automobile business. After working for a automobile dealer for 4 years I knew that I wanted to obtain my own business. With the help of God and wonderful parents to raise me to stay focus I have accomplished this dream. I am now the CEO of my own automobile dealership in Huntsville Alabama for the past seven years.
The community is in shock to learn that Dr. Stovall Sr., a successful doctor in the state of Georgia for over fifty years, has died from lung cancer. While speaking at Price Funeral Home, Mayor Giddens tells the family and community "the world has lost a good man today, a man that would give you his last dollar just to try to make someone’s life better. It's sad that we have lost such a good man. But we are excited because he raised a good son to follow his footsteps." As tears run down the face of Dr. Stovall, Jr., he knows that his father will be missed, but not forgotten. "I know in my heart that my father would want me to continue operating on patients at Albany Medical Hospital, says Dr. Stovall, Jr. I am going to continue the Stovall legacy, which is to save as many lives as I can." While walking out of the funeral home viewing his father's body for the last time, Dr. Stovall, Jr. holds his father's hands and says, I won't ever let you down.
"I am sorry that you lost your father but he is at a better place now," says Mayor Giddens. "Tomorrow morning Mr. Price, Chief Watts, and I will have a meeting with you to explain how we do business here in Albany, Georgia. Between your father, Mr. Price, and myself we have made millions of dollars in this city, and as long as you follow our rules you will do the same." Around 9:00 a.m. the next morning Chief Watts, Mr. Price, and the mayor explains to Dr. Stovall, Jr. that for years they have been getting large sum of money through his insurance company. "But how?" says Dr. Stovall. "Since we all hate blacks, your father made sure that if a black person came into this hospital, they wouldn't make it out alive." "You see son, says Mr. Price, I am the director of this hospital, with my own insurance company and I also own every funeral home in this city. Our goals for years is to falsely take out a $50,000 policy on a single poor black parent, so we try to kill every black patient to collect insurance money through my company. That is why we love to see a black person come to our public hospital." "Now I see, the mission here is to target a single parent who doesn't have insurance," says Dr. Stovall. Mr. Price and the mayor both smile and say "now you see how we do business." "We hate blacks, but love money." Knowing all alone that Dr. Stovall's father raised him to hate blacks, he loves his boss’ idea. "By the way" says Mayor Giddens, "you don't have to worry about any lawsuits in my city, because I am the mayor and I control what’s going on in this city." "I can't go wrong says Dr. Stovall. "I have the director of the hospital, who also owns every funeral home in this city and the mayor on my side. Before I leave, how much money do I receive per body?" "You pay Chief Watts ten percent for not investigating and you will get $20,000. My insurance company will pay you as soon as you pronounce a black body has died, if a child dies, the money figure is double." As Dr. Stovall leaves his boss office he whisper and says, "sounds like there is about to be a lot of dead black bodies in this hospital." Just 48 hours later, a black woman needed treatment for cancer, but ends up dead. Dr. Stovall’s medical staff could not believe this African American woman died because, all she needed was her medicine. "How in the hell are we going to explain her death to her family?" say Mr. Smith, the leading medical doctor. "We are going to tell the family that her cancer had already spread too much throughout her body and that the medicine would have not done her any good." The family is very upset and says they are going to file a lawsuit against the hospital. Listening to the conversation, Dr. Stovall phones the mayor to inform him of what happened. "Don't worry about anything" says the mayor. "This family is a poor black family they can not afford an attorney. And if they do I will make sure we settle out of court for a small amount of money. You see most blacks are poor and will settle for just about any amount of money. Just continue doing what we discuss in the meeting, and look for your $20,000 check in the mail.