On April 19, 2006, the New York Times published a column regarding international teleradiology which advocated that quality and safety measures, such as physician licensing, to protect patients from lesser or untrained overseas personnel be dropped in the name of free trade.

Below is a copy of the letter which James P. Borgstede, MD, chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors, sent to the editor of the New York Times in response to the column. Note: The New York Times limits these letters to 150 words or less for publication.

To the editor:
David Leonhardt's (Political Clout in the Age of Outsourcing - April 19) is factually inaccurate and misses the purpose of physician licensing which is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare with respect to the practice of medicine.

While some individuals, as Mr. Leonhardt alludes in his article, may not want the protection of licensed radiologist physicians interpreting their examinations, most patients do. Patients also want recourse should an interpretive misadventure occur. In Mr. Leonhardt's world, patients would have neither.

The article is factually inaccurate in stating "So even if the world's most talented radiologist happened to have trained in India, there would be no test he could take to prove his mettle here." The only test required is the United States Medical Licensing Exam. Many talented radiologists, trained in India and other countries, have taken this exam, have become licensed, and can practice in their licensed jurisdiction irregardless of their residence.

Please get your facts and perspective straight to avoid misleading the public.

Sincerely,

James P. Borgstede, MD, FACR
Chair
American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors

More Voices