Author Archives: ddxdx

About ddxdx

A Family physician, former county coroner and former Idaho State Senator

Online Signature

Posted on July 26, 2020 by ddxdx

I don’t get a reminder from the State of Idaho that I need to renew my drivers license. I guess they expect me to be mature and responsible and figure those things out on my own. Yeah, right. Well, I … Continue reading →

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Rockslide Opportunity

Posted on July 16, 2020 by ddxdx

The rockslide south of Riggins that has closed Highway 95 for the foreseeable future has given North Idaho the chance it has been denied since statehood; independence. The odd shape of this state was no doing of our own. Back … Continue reading →

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Inspiration

Posted on July 8, 2020 by ddxdx

I was mostly tired in medical school, not inspired. But I remember one small part of just one of hundreds of lectures and it has stuck with me to this day. It was the mid 1980’s and Medicare had instituted … Continue reading →

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Don’t Think Like a Virus

Posted on July 7, 2020 by ddxdx

As the numbers climb in some states and bump up a bit in ours, I thought we should take some time to consider the lowly viral point of view. I’m not here to sell you on “viral rights” or equal … Continue reading →

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A Job to do

Posted on June 25, 2020 by ddxdx

It will be ten years this summer since Vernon Baker died. His story deserves some retelling. He entered the Army before the Second World War because he needed a job. He quit as a porter on the railroad because he … Continue reading →

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False Positives

Posted on June 17, 2020 by ddxdx

The lab in the basement of the Idaho Freedom Foundation was abuzz. The tests were looking good. “When can we roll this out?” the Lab Director Ben wanted to know. “It’s ready for beta testing.” Lab Tech Jerry beamed. “Explain … Continue reading →

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Defund Health Care

Posted on June 10, 2020 by ddxdx

The chant “Defund Police” is bouncing off the walls of the buildings next to many demonstrations. They are protesting an unjust, cruel death of a nonviolent black man under the crushing knee of a white cop, while three other uniformed … Continue reading →

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When Compassion Fails

Posted on June 3, 2020 by ddxdx

 It was near the end of my three-year residency. I had gotten up after midnight to admit an elderly woman complaining of headache. The ER had given her large doses of narcotics to help her pain, and they depressed her … Continue reading →

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Rotunda Showdown

Posted on May 23, 2020 by ddxdx

It was a sunny May morning in Idaho. The primary election was over and Governor Little was in pretty good spirits. He was looking to back his ¾ ton Ford pickup into a metered space by the Capitol when a … Continue reading →

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Health Care Slowdown

Posted on May 21, 2020 by ddxdx

Isn’t it ironic that one of the largest economic sectors contributing to the Covid-19 recession is health care? Almost half of the massive first quarter US GDP drop comes from losses in health care spending. Just when the “best health … Continue reading →

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