RURAL VS. URBAN HEALTH CARE:

There is a vast difference between health care in rural and urban areas.  Rural areas have predominately family practice physicians, and they do not have the education and experience to address any specialty.  They are supposed to refer a patient to a physician who has spent more years in medical school, studying a specialty (e.g., an internist or orthopedic surgeon) and participating in an internship and residency.  Some rural areas have a health care system set up just for a small region, and they have to choose availability over education.  Hiring is therefore within a small group of doctors who wish to live far from any urban advantages, including a teaching hospital, many physicians for referrals, and specialists who can prevent, detect, and manage serious ailments.  While there are advantages of living in rural areas, especially isolated ones, there are health necessities that are not being met.  More rural folk die from the neglect of detection and management of serious ailments than in urban sites.  When a rural area does have a decent hospital nearby, there is a better chance of finding a specialty physician who is usually "out of the loop" regarding "protection."

One of the many problems with rural health care speak to "The Old Boys' Club" of physicians protecting each other from the harm they do to patients.  When one doctor might physically attack a patient causing permanent injuries, s/he is protected by the others who then refuse to see a new patient -- and even tell that patient to move away immediately since no medical care will ever be available again.  Even worse, I have discovered one semi-rural orthopedic surgeon who told a patient to "do away with yourself."  The corruption is not corrected by one's senator or representative, nor does the governor, attorney general, or state's attorney want anything to do with the issue.  Even the local police will not investigate an attack if it is reported as a physician's attack.  However, if a barfly attacks a hooker in a saloon, the police are there immediately for an arrest.

This same issue is prevalent when a family practice doctor arrives from another state, having had her/his license revoked, and is allowed to commit the same errors of judgement in the new state.  The state Board of Physicians receives complaints that can be easily verified, but even with written evidence, they will not sanction a rural doctor.  In addition, there are often no victim advocates that do anything but protect the state from any accountability.  Maryland is one state with only victim advocates that protect the state; there are no services for victims of the state.

This would not happen in a city.  There are many physicians to choose from, and they don't collaborate to save "bad" doctors.  Urban health care is not always the same in all states, but a patient is not put in a situation where absolutely no doctor will see her/him.  Further, if a rural doctor takes away a needed medicine from a disabled person, there is no one else to turn to.  Most elderly patients have to rely on inadequate care which may lead to an early death.  Driving long distances further remove rural patients from proper care, and many have been forced to leave longtime careers simply because of a poorly educated or emotionally disturbed doctor who couldn't find any other place to practice but a rural area.

I will be utilizing all media to bring attention to this problem, and I will name names and rural health systems with written evidence of their malpractice.  It must be obvious that no malpractice lawyer will take such cases since they would not receive enough money to make it profitable!  The ACLU told me that they have no legal aid for citizens since they are far too busy with protecting illegal immigrants.  National Victim Advocate Associations do not protect Maryland residents.  They must know that the governor appoints the Boards and he and other officials, elected or appointed, have no interest in accountability.  The wealthy, of course, just go to a city and have their choice of specialty lawyers who will take any case if enough money is given up-front.

There will be much more information on this topic as investigators and TV hosts make this health care problem public knowledge.