Final answer:
When Atticus questioned Mr. Heck Tate, it was surprising that Mr. Tate did not call a doctor to the scene of the incident. However, Mr. Tate explained that he believed the victim had died instantly and no medical intervention could have saved him.
Step-by-step explanation:
During Atticus' questioning of Mr. Heck Tate on the stand in the courtroom, it is revealed that when Mr. Tate arrived at the scene of the incident, he did not call a doctor for the victim, which was surprising. He explained this by stating that there was no need for a doctor because the victim, who was attacked with a knife, was already dead. Mr. Tate's decision not to call a doctor was based on the fact that in his professional opinion, the victim had died instantly and no medical intervention could have saved him.It is surprising that Mr. Tate, upon arriving at the scene of the crime, did not call for a doctor, which would have been expected given the circumstances. He did not do this because he assumed from the nature of Mayella Ewell's injuries that she was beyond the help of a doctor, reflecting the assumptions and prejudices that permeate the society depicted in the novel.