Judson Cox, August 3, 2004

During the Democratic primary, I wrote a column entitled, "The John Edwards That North Carolina Knows." I explained why John Edwards is so unpopular in North Carolina, how he is out of step with North Carolina 's values and how his policies and actions have hurt my state. I gave examples showing that Sen. Edwards is not only a cynical and corrupt politician, but to use a uniquely North Carolina phrase, he is also dumber than a sack full of hammers. Last week I experienced a reminder of why John Edwards is unfit to be Vice President.

Thanks to Sen. Edwards, going to a doctor in North Carolina has become an ordeal often worse than the sickness. Edwards made millions as a malpractice lawyer (an ambulance chaser). Edwards became legendary for his performances before juries. He channeled the spirits of dead children whose requests from beyond the grave always involved large sums of money. While building his $60 million fortune through theatrics and junk science, he became a tool of the malpractice industry. Lawyers needed only to threaten a doctor, hospital or insurance company with Edwards' name to frighten them into large settlements.

Edwards and his cronies sued many of our best doctors out of business, and drove malpractice insurance so high that many doctors left the state.

Last week, I got very sick. I am reluctant to go to a doctor. This is mostly due to hubris and a misguided faith in my own physical fortitude. After five days of being unable to keep any food in my system, and two days without water, I was still stubborn enough to drive to Virginia to help my mother load a moving truck. My mother has a great deal more sense than I; she insisted I see a doctor. She found a doctor who would take a new patient without an appointment. This was where the contrasts with North Carolina began. North Carolina has such a shortage of general practitioners that seeing anyone without an appointment is all but impossible, and many doctors will not accept new patients. A G.P. sees the greatest variety of illnesses, and has the greatest risk of being sued for misdiagnosis.

In the doctor's office, more differences became obvious. It was a one doctor private practice. North Carolina doctors have had to band together in group practices to share the insurance burden and to protect against lawsuits. Then came a real shock, I spent only a few minutes in the waiting room! The doctor shortage in North Carolina means that a visit entails waiting most of the day to see the doctor. The doctor was a Caucasian man in his late 70's. Doctors in North Carolina are mostly young men and women of Arab, Indian or African nationality. The doctor asked me a few questions, used his hands and stethoscope, and within ten minutes diagnosed me. That was it, no elaborate procedures, no expensive tests, no blood drawn. He had seen it before, and he knew how to treat it. He wrote two prescriptions. There were no fancy new medicines with names featured in multi-million dollar advertising campaigns. I didn't have to "ask my doctor."

In North Carolina, they would have insisted on multiple tests and second opinions from doctors within their medical group. They would have insisted I be hospitalized, due to my fever and dehydration, so that if my symptoms worsened they could not be held responsible. They would have prescribed the newest, most expensive medication so that no one could accuse them of prescribing inadequate drugs. Without a pre-established primary care physician, I would probably have had to go to a hospital emergency room for care.

The most striking difference came when I paid the bill. I asked to pay cash, and I braced for what is usually the most painful part of a doctor visit. Amazingly, my bill came to a mere $45.00! Never have I received such care for such a reasonable price. My medications cost only $26.00. Edwards and his trial lawyer backers have done irreparable harm to North Carolina 's health care system, and created a "health care crisis," driving up prices beyond the abilities of many to pay them. Now, he promises to fix this crisis. If most Americans knew what I know about Sen. Edwards, they would have to be dumber than a sack full of hammers to vote for him.

Judson Cox is a political columnist from the mountains of North Carolina. He is quickly gaining recognition as one of the most popular and influential voices of his generation. As a college student, and a young entrepreneur, he has a unique perspective on matters of politics, economics and culture.

Copyright © 2004 Judson Cox