Third: Medical practice sans license

ECH, MD, you did things correctly. However, there are dozens, maybe more, maybe lots and lots more, people practicing medicine here without that "License". Most of them are Cubans. Several of them are Dominicans that never got beyond the "purchasing" stage. I doubt that there are many from PR or the US here like that. Their reason for studying Medicine in the first place was to go back and practice in their home countries. And, of course, there are the quacks and fakers, which you have so adriotly pointed out on other occasions.....

The situation is changing, but all to slowly. In the remote towns and villages, just to have somebody that looks and acts like a doctor is incredibly fortunate for the community...whether they are or not!!

"Cosas veredes, Sancho.."

Hb

Yes, Hillbilly, there are those that are practicing without a license as you describe and most are non Dominicans such as Cubans and other Latin Americans. The most distressing part of this whole problem is the ones THAT ARE PRACTICING WITH A LICENSE and haven't a clue as to administer good first aid. Classic example was the poor Senator who was shot, treated at "a private clinic" and sent to Salud Publica. The poor fellow arrived bleeding and in shock AND DID NOT EVEN HAVE AN I.V. FLUID GOING. What the hell kind of clinic was this that initially treated the fellow!!! And reminds me of the SENIOR RESIDENT in Urology at a Santo Domingo Hospital who saw a patient suspected of having a heart attack (on Friday) and gave him a perscription for some lab studies and an EKG and an appointment to come back to the medical clinic on MONDAY. Dear God, a man having an acute heart attack and was told to come back three days later for a check up. The Resident did not have a clue what he should have done or that this was a life threatening situation. Then there is the story of the 18 year old who had his bladder removed because they "thought" he had cancer....did not bother to do a biopsy....just mutilated his pelvic region. Such is medicine in the Dominican Republic. There is no one you have to explain your mistakes to, no peer review. And those that are in position to actually do something and improve the situation do nothing.......for fear of "offending" a colleague or something like that. Salud Publica and the Dominican Medical Association are nothing more than political organizations and could care less about the quality of medical care for the Dominican population. Sorry, I just get tired of seeing Dominicans "bumped off" without explaination and no one cares.