Examine the role of discrimination in the play.

The private practice of medicine is a key theme in this play as it is a primary reason Ridgeon is able to pass over treatment of Louis. Ridgeon's private practice is only able to handle 10 patients, maximum 11 to cure of tuberculosis as he does not have the resources for more at any one time, and his beds are currently at 10. If the system of healthcare were to be nationalized each patient would be treated and no one would be left behind, whereas Shaw shows us that by allowing privatization of medicine an individual doctor can determine at will whom he treats, and in this case whom will die.