Jerrold Karp, M.D. is an ophthalmologist who practices in a town just outside of Chicago. He treats all forms of eye disease, but earns most of his income by performing cataract surgery. The CEO of the hospital where Karp operates meets with Billy White, M.D., a nationally renowned cataract surgeon from Chicago. White and the CEO conspire to damage Karp's reputation so that White can increase his surgical volume by taking over Karp's practice. In return for helping him do this, White agrees to work at Karp's hospital. After trying for many month to prove his competence, Karp nonetheless loses his privileges to perform cataract surgery. In addition, his license to practice medicine is revoked. As a result, he loses his practice. His wife, incensed, leaves him. Karp finds evidence of this conspiracy, in addition to other questionable tactics used by the doctors and administration of the hospital. Depressed, alone, and unable to convince others of his conspiracy charge, Karp decides to commit suicide. He creates a car bomb and plans to kill himself. His plans are altered when the estranged husband of another physician practicing at the hospital returns home and attempts to abduct the couple's children. Karp uses his car bomb in a novel manner to turn the tables on his accusers.
