Dead For Quids

A much loved elderly woman dies while under the care of Doc Bourke, an old style country doctor who makes house calls, sets broken legs in paddocks and accepts cuts of meat in lieu of payment. At the reading of the will it is discovered that the elderly women left her considerable estate to Doc Bourke. The disinherited relatives call foul and accuse him of murder. Tom was delivered by Doc Bourke and has regarded him as a hero all his life. PJ has a natural distrust of doctors, especially those who seem to be playing God. Tom and PJ clash as PJ investigate the increasing numbers of claims that the Doc has stepped over the line. For PJ, a copper is someone who swears to uphold the law, no ifs, no buts. Doctors swear to preserve life—there should be no difference between the two. But is there? When does relieving a terminal patient in extreme pain cross the line into a shortening of the patient's life? And who has the right to decide?