In Rural America, Scarce Drs Battle Misinfo., Conspiracy As They Practice, Wyoming Oncologist: NPR

[appalachiablue]

'In rural America, scarce doctors battle misinformation as they practice medicine,' NPR, Oct. 15, 2025. - PHOTO Caption: Dr. Banu Symington, at her office in Rock Springs, Wyo., is one of just a few full-time oncologists practicing in the state.
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When Dr. Banu Symington first moved to Rock Springs, Wyo., 30 years ago, she appreciated its empty desert landscapes and small-town respect for physicians like herself. Fast-forward to today. Some of Symington's cancer patients curse at her for suggesting they vaccinate or wear masks to protect their weakened immune systems while undergoing chemotherapy.

"I actually had a patient's husband say, 'You only want me to mask because you're a liberal bitch.'"

Symington is among many doctors who say political attacks on science and medicine are affecting their relationships with patients, particularly in rural communities, where physician recruitment already poses a chronic challenge. Increasingly, misinformation and conspiracy theories about health fill a vacuum created by the lack of doctors, adding challenges to care. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's dramatic changes to health, science, public health and immigration policies are making recruitment of overseas talent tougher.

Conspiracy theories. In the sparsely populated mineral and coal mining towns that dot the area around Rock Springs, Symington says disinformation and political rage run rampant. At a recent county fair, for example, she stood for four hours offering free vials of sunscreen to passersby — but got no takers. One woman asked "Do you want to know why?" and then told Symington: "Doctors have been putting cancer-causing chemicals in sunscreen so we'll all get cancer and they'll enrich themselves."

Symington says such conspiracy theories and political divisiveness over health and science have worn away at the basic civilities that once made the community feel cohesive. "'You're a pharma whore,'" she's told. "They say it to my face." A lung cancer patient of Symington's refused vaccination, then died of COVID, still angrily believing the disease to be manufactured political fiction. Symington says until recent years, she'd been on friendly terms with that man, who always offered restaurant recommendations and suggestions for spots to rock hunt, which he knew was her hobby. His transformation is emblematic of a broader shift, she says...
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/10/15/nx-s1-5534324/rural-health-care-doctors-disinformation

[tanyev]

1. She might want to get the heck out of there before something worse than verbal attacks happens.

They can pray to St. Ivermectin for miraculous cures.

[appalachiablue]

3. I hear you, their loss. Thanks for posting.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. This is such a shame, these people are literally stabbing themselves in the foot, killing themselves. I give a heck of

a lot of credit to these medical professionals in continuing to stay in these rural communities, continuing to serve under increasing difficult conditions. I wouldn't be surprised if the trend continues to show that medical professionals, nurses, etc. all continue to empty out of these rural areas and refuse to serve these communities...and I don't blame them, come to the big cities, we got room for you, we have vibrant cities w/ tons of things to do, tons of support on the sidelines, and all other sorts of goodies/things for these hard-working health professionals. Don't let these thugs drag you and your hard work down into the gutter they are already in.

[appalachiablue]

4. The medical staff deserve a medal, and should leave. Ignorance rules, their loss.

TX for replying.

[SWBTATTReg]

5. Absolutely!

I have seen a tiny sampling of what rural America is facing, for example, my Mom and Dad moved rural Missouri, nearest town of any size is population 15-20K, nearest big town for dental or other somewhat major medical things was in Springfield, MO or the Lake of the Ozarks, each approximately 50 miles away or so. Often an overnight trip was caused due to when the appts were, and thus, incurred more costs for my parents.

One big reason why I didn't retire there, even though I'm a big trout fisherman, would have loved it (folks and my place were just right behind a big national park too), was that everything, and I mean everything was 50 miles away, 50 miles away that, 50 miles this, etc. T

These few rural people moaning and complaining about this should literally stop and actually think, but you know already know as well as I do, that they won't, until it comes up to bite them in the a&&.

[CanonRay]

6. Rock Springs is, was, and always has been a shithole.

My condolences to any Dems there.