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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUpdate#2: So I just reported Rafael Cruz (not Ted, darn) for practicing medicine without a license.
Last edited Thu Jan 27, 2022, 03:23 PM - Edit history (2)
ETA#2: I just spoke with the Ohio licensing board - they are now going after everyone MD listed on the site who is not licensed to practice medicine in Ohio. They were unaware of the site - and very pleased to have been notified.
ETA: Not Ted Cruz, the senator, as my sleep-deprived brain told me. Thanks to all for the correction - I was just coming to correct my post after realizing my mistake. Too many politicians pretending they are real doctors and real lawyers to keep them all straight, too little sleep.
BUT - the rest is still applicable - feel free to report him (and all the other unlicensed practitioners in your state).
Back in August I reported a handful medical providers from out-of-state who are advertising their services to customers in Ohio without being licensed in Ohio (for telemed consultations for the purpose of prescribing ivermectin).
At the time I was royally pissed - not merely because of the irresponsibility of the service - BUT because I was denied a telemed consult with MD Anderson - even with a rare cancer for which the recommendation is that **at a minimum** you receive a second opinion as to diagnosis and treatment from one of a half-dozen high volume sarcoma centers. Ohio's protectionist medical licensing laws prohibited it - even at the peak of COVID, even for a disease for which competent care is best provided at a few sites within the country. I debated heading to a parking lot in Michigan, which is part of a multi-state licensing compact so I could do a telemed consult with Mayo (Minnesota is also in the licensing compact), but ultimately ruled it out. That's how hard it is to get a legitimate second opinion if the handful of rare disease treatment centers are not located within the boundaries of your state.
And these fools have the nerve to set up a website expressly advertising they are willing to practice medicine in Ohio via a telemed consult.
At any rate, the one MD I reported in August has modified his listing to exclude Ohio . . . but I just received notice that the Ohio Medical Board wishes to speak with me about the complaint I filed. So I went back to the site and the number of providers has significantly expanded . . . and now includes Rafael (not senator Ted) Cruz{Corrected from earlier}. While he used to be licensed in Ohio, he is not currently. I reported him and a half dozen or his buddies.
So - check the laws in your state. Most states require doctors to be licensed in the patient's state in order to provide a telemed consult. If Rafael Cruz {Corrected from earlier} is offering to practice medicine in your state, chances are he's offering to practice medicine without a license. (Texas is NOT part of the multi-state compact, so he would need to be directly licensed in your state.)
Ohio Joe
(21,756 posts)sinkingfeeling
(51,457 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,289 posts)I looked at the website in the OP and there is a Rafael Cruz listed, but he is a doctor with a practice in Indiana. And he doesn't call himself Ted. I don't know if the OP is confused or just thinks it's an interesting coincidence.
sinkingfeeling
(51,457 posts)Ms. Toad
(34,070 posts)I was confusing the politicians who are pretend doctors with the ones who are retend lawyers -I also misread the state, for some reason. More sleep deprived than I thought, I guess.
Mr.Bill
(24,289 posts)I know it's happened to me. It's still an interesting subject, I mean doctors trying to practice medicine in a state where they are not licensed. There's a lot of medical products advertising you can get them online after an online "examination" by a doctor. I wonder how well this is being policed. Good for you for calling them on it.
Ms. Toad
(34,070 posts)when I reported it back in August.
There really are only a handful of high volume sarcoma centers - and it's such an easy disease to really screw up treating if you aren't seeing a lot of them. The decision for radiation or not for me came down to reviewing a few case studies of people diagosed with my sub-type of sarcoma, at the stage at which I was diagnosed. There are probably only 3-4 sites in the country who have seen more than one of me.
But for COVID 19, I would have traveled to MD Anderson in Texas (which sees the most) when I was diagnosed 13 months ago. But for stupid protectionist laws, I could have had a telemed consult with them.
If it returns - as a high percentage do - I'll be heading to Texas for advice on next steps. But I shouldn't have to. All they need are the pathology slides and imaging, all of which can be handled electronically. And the doctors at these specialty centers are far more competent than most general oncologists - who are permitted to totally screw it up as long as they hold an Ohio license.
And these fools at Frontline COVID Critidal Care Alliance are blatantly flaunting the law by offering telemed consults in most states to provide quack cures for COVID.
Most state medical boards aren't pro-active at policing. It requires complaints from individuals to start an investigation. And most people don't realize that it is the location of the patient at the time of consult which determines whether they are practicing medicine without a license.
Ms. Toad
(34,070 posts)dchill
(38,489 posts)That is all.