In July 2019, I filed a lawsuit against a number of doctors at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Brighton, Massachusetts, and the Steward Health Care System. The case is as unusual as it is ghastly, compared to the typical medical malpractice case. It involves emergency medicine and psychiatry. It exposes the collusion between psychiatry and the law, with racial prejudice and discrimination in healthcare, civil rights violations, and retaliatory features.  

What happened to me in that hospital was extremely egregious, and the conduct of these doctors was racist, vile, and plain atrocious towards me. I filed the lawsuit pro se, and so far my case has been allowed to proceed at every step of the way after winning all motions either filed by me or by the defendants' lawyers. In fact, my latest victory, in this case, was on the defendants' motion to reconsider, which was denied soundly just last week, where the judge cited "my analysis in my motion in opposition" as his reason for denying their motion. These are huge hurdles and I have cleared them all at this point.

The defendants-doctors are running out of options. As for me, I am one expert witness away from winning this case hands-down. It took me several months to search for a qualified expert who was willing to work with me on the case. I had already secured 2 expert reports for my case. But I needed a medical expert. I finally found one of the best in the business. But I need to raise the money for his retainer and fees.

You can help me raise this money here by visiting my Gofundme campaign page. I will pay your contribution forward by supporting other campaigns and this site when the time comes. I have donated before and I will again, in addition to having supported dozens of petitions on this site and elsewhere.

Today, while working on a 2nd. set of interrogatories to send to the defendants-doctors, I took another look at each Curriculum Vitae. That is when I noticed that Dr. Chitra Malur who is the chief of psychiatry and chair of behavioral health does not hold any graduate degree, and neither does she hold a doctoral degree in medicine. Nor does she have any formal training in psychiatry, and neither has she received any academic instructions in the United States whatsoever.

However sympathetic and respectful as I am towards professionals who have studied abroad prior to coming to the United States, the reality is that Dr. Malur only holds a bachelor’s degree from Kilpauk Medical College in Madras, India.

Here are the requirements for foreign physicians whose studies and degrees originate outside the United States, and how they can become qualified and certified to practice medicine in the US: How Foreign Physicians Can Work as Healthcare Practitioners in the US:

December 10, 2019 — By Maria Zegarra
How Foreign Physicians Can Work as Healthcare Practitioners in the US:

Certifying that the FMG obtained a degree listed on the World Directory of Medical Schools
Completing missing education requirements
Medical Science Requirements — You must pass both the USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge)
Clinical Skills Requirement — To practice medicine in the US after graduating from med school in another country, you must also pass the USMLE Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills)
Going through a residency program
Obtaining final ECFMG certification

Dr. Malur’s CV shows none of that. I requested this information and further clarification from Dr. Malur, and of course, I will justly post her answer if she decides that she wishes to correct the record.

You can find the names of all the defendants on my Gofundme campaign page by clicking on this link. Once there you will also find the case number and a link to the court docket where you can find all documents and rulings, view the status of the case, and follow all developments in this case.

Dr. Malur's lack of medical training and qualifications to practice medicine is in addition to both Dr. David E. Ricklan and Dr. Suneer Chander having had complaints filed against them with the Board of Registration in Medicine.

We need fundamental changes in all aspects of medicine and healthcare delivery, from what is taught in medical school at all of our universities, to how doctors conduct themselves and manage patient care and treatment, to patient-centered avenues for holding doctors and hospitals accountable. The government agencies' bureaucrats who are charged with overseeing patient safety are unfortunately AWOL. 

I need people who care about patient care and the medical profession to support me in this endeavor. A courtroom success, in this case, will be a success for all, particularly for minorities, women, the elderly, and the poor. It will move the goal post forward and serve to provoke reform, by serving as a landmark for the critical structural and fundamental changes in healthcare that all so desperately need.

Contribute here and please share. 

Your support is appreciated.

Thank you.

Marie Yolette