Thanks, Dr. Trench. Even More on Brian Gale.
by Richard Willner (no login)
Posted to the Podiatry Forum 9/30/00

John,

Thank you for the wonderful words. You said, "fine, ethical men blessed with intelligence, compassion, candor, devotion,..." Hey, John, mind calling my wife and telling it to her one on one? She will never believe it!! She thinks that I am the North end of a Southbound Horse. : )

All I am is one stubborn guy who believes in a very simple concept called "FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE". We all were taught it when we were younger. And, we teach our kids that, as well. So, why don't adults believe it anymore?

I am not so bright that I can explain away why it is "OK" to ignore it when it happens to a person.

OR it is "OK" because a College Leader is "too busy" to work for "Fairness and Justice". It takes too much time to fit into his schedule.  But, I will tell you, when the average Podiatry Student really pays attention to the Brian Gale Story, and the response of Podiatry, I wonder how that student will respect Podiatry.

OR what happened to Brian Gale is "OK" because the APMA is not concerned with "states issues". This I heard a couple of times. The first time I heard it I was too stunned to reply. Read the APMA minutes of meetings to see for oneself why this is a silly argument that even the speaker wouldn't believe if the Gale mess happened to him.

OR what happened to Brian Gale is "OK" because he has had a 4 year residency and people are glad that "he got screwed" because they are jealous of what he attained. This is a much more common reaction from folks. And, I respect those who have freely told me the above. I respect and admire honesty.

OR what happened to Brian Gale is "OK" because  it didn't happen to them nor do they think that it ever would. They are right. The odds are that this would not happen to them. What happened to Gale is quite unusual, to be sure. But, what COULD happen is that one could get a malpractice suit for weak reasons. And, the insurance company gets an Expert Witness who is not totally on the Doctor's side. And the Insurance company settles and
then drops the Doctor for being "High Risk". Then, no other Insurance company will insure said doctor. Do you think that Doctor wants to fight his battle alone? "Fairness and Justice" in Podiatry is more than a slogan. It is an ideal that must be worked for each day. (this is an actual case that I know of and have the records for. Details can be provided by private Email)

I have a sense of OUTRAGE when I hear from a Podiatry Leader that "what happened to Brian Gale has happened "all of the time." "

 That I shouldn't be upset. I reply, "how many should this happen to in Podiatry before I get upset? 5? 10? What is permissible?"

The whole Nation is tuned into www.BrianGale.com. They see the Insincerity, the Unfairness, the Injustice that makes Podiatry. This is a HUGE issue for Podiatry.
Why? Because the Nation is watching. 

Podiatry is losing the Public Relations Battle. Forget about the wonderful exposure of the USA Today once a year Podiatry Call-a-thon. A website has the potential for unbelievable exposure of a point of view. The Nation witnesses the Unfairness and Injustice of a Profession against one powerless man. Now, that is a Profession that I can be proud of!!!

I have always said that if my opinion offends anyone, let's hear the opposing viewpoint right here on another Post. This is a Free Country and we encourage the free exchange of our opinions. I have been asking for "negative" comments or in fact any comment for over six (6) months now.

Over Sixty Thousand ( 60,000 ) visitors have seen www.briangale.com in the six months. It shows no signs of slowing down. 

More and more support from Podiatrists come everyday. This is Nationwide support. From Maine to Florida. From New York to San Fran. From North Dakota to the Bayou of South Louisiana.

The support in North Dakota is becoming more vocal. Gale was the Delegate to the House of Delegates of the APMA. He was chosen by the President of the ND APMA to represent all Podiatrists of that state. What an honor.

And the American Podiatric Medical Association has a Board of Inquiry directed towards the members of the North Dakota Board of Podiatric Medicine who are members of the APMA. Very rare and unusual. In 20 years of being a Podiatrist, I have never heard of such a thing. If a reader is interested, I urge them to call the APMA Offices to get further information on that. And, if a reader would be so kind as to post his findings, that would be helpful also.

Good Luck, Brian David Gale. I am behind you.

Richard
Rich