because her mother beat her? He wasn't going to get involved that and not only that why did Willona have to be so GHETTO anfd IGNORANT when asking for his assistance?


Williona-"The Child is hurt do something about it Negro!!"


HUH??-lol I would have told her the same thing-"Hey don't come flappin at me"

As a doctor, he should have done what he could. However, being that Penny didn't have her mother around to give consent, what could he do?

Willona should have taken her to the emergency room, they will treat someone regardless. The hospital would have tried to get in touch with the mother (via phone or police) and she would have had to go to the hospital.

It's funny, because at the beginning of the scene Willona seemed like she was attracted to the doctor, but then all of a sudden, she went off on him. LOL But yeah, I agree, that doctor's job was to patch her up, not find out how they got there. It doesn't make the doctor less dedicated if you ask me.

What I don't understand is, why didn't Willona and the gang call CPS or the police the day they saw the burns and bruises on Penny’s back??

As a doctor, he should have done what he could. However, being that Penny didn't have her mother around to give consent, what could he do?

Willona should have taken her to the emergency room, they will treat someone regardless. The hospital would have tried to get in touch with the mother (via phone or police) and she would have had to go to the hospital.
That entire episode was so mishandled. Once the bruises were seen Willona and the gang should had called CPS and/or the police. They were out of the ordinary bruises for a child. Remember this was the 70s and things were loose back then. Too loose which is why we are paying the price because of how we handled matters back then. That is whole another subject to go off into.

Brieannas and mstewart, you both hit it on the head. WHY???? That didn't make any sense. It was clear we knew how the bruises and burns got there, and it was obvious to Willona that Penny didn't get them by falling down, so why didn't she call the cops or CPS?

Also, the doctor told Willona he (by law) is supposed to make a report if he suspects child abuse. Now, let me say, let's suppose Willona wasn't the one who took Penny to the doctor, let's assume it was her mother, Mrs. Gordon. And of course, Mrs. Gordon lies. The doctor would make a call because of Penny's injuries. A doctor can tell most of the time whether a fracture or injury was by an accident or abuse. Surely her burns alone would have been reason enough to suspect. Therefore, regardless of who took Penny in, had the doctor just looked over Penny, surely seeing the burns and bruises he would have had reason to call the police and/or CPS. It seems the doctor avoided seeing Penny simply because of Willona's attitude. Which in itself was wrong.

What I don't understand is, why didn't Willona and the gang call CPS or the police the day they saw the burns and bruises on Penny’s back??
THANK YOU!! That's the FIRST thing they should have done.