New Mexico Is Trying To Lure Texas Doctors With the Promise Of Freedom To Practice

A letter/ad has recently been making the rounds from New Mexico's governor. Make no mistake, the state is trying to steal our doctors and nurses.

Is It Stealing?

Stealing in not a very good term for attempts to lure talent away from Texas and into New Mexico. The fact is, if the work situation is better, then it's just a job offer and that's all it is. Recent reproductive restrictions and how they can hamstring doctors in treating their patients seems to be the basic theme here, but it could go beyond that.

Recruiting

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham released "An Open Letter To Medical Professionals".  The Governor points out that doctors too their oaths "to serve patients and not politicians and for those who can't handle the Texas restrictions, to consider practicing "next door in New Mexico". The Governor also promises that she "will never interfere with the rights of healthcare workers to care for their patients in New Mexico".

Will It Work?

So will this tact be successful? The fact is, yes. Frustration and a lack of opportunities can lead to nothing else but a move. Some of you may even say, "good riddance", but losing doctors is never a good thing. Texas is already the 7th worst state in terms of medical care. Texas not only needs to retain it's current medical professionals, it needs to attract talent. Letters like the one from the New Mexico Governor will alert prospective doctors may not want to locate in Texas at all.