Badge of Infamy

This is a good classic Sci-Fi book. I would highly recommend this. Definitely old school pulp.

After a world plague, the Earth is ruled by the US, which is for all practical purposes ruled by the Medical and Space Lobbies. A promising doctor is declared an outlaw because he saved a friend's life by operating in the field instead of a hospital. He slinks off to Mars for some peace. But he discovers a Martian germ has begun infecting humans and he has to do something.
The writing is not so dry as the summary; it actually held my interest. There's a little mystery, some ex-spouse friction, double-dealing on both sides, and a war of liberation. Yes, the doctor is pure and idealistic, and the ex-wife is oddly amorphous in her loyalties and loves. Parts could be better, but I don't regret the time I spent reading it.

The entitlement crowd has finally won. Government has grown enormous to satisfy them for their votes, and very few actually work. (sound familiar)? Worse, lobbies grew in parallel with government and figured out that if they consolidated, they'd rule it all-and so they did. The medical lobby controls all medical care, and their physicians are a bunch of bureaucratic dimwits who could care less about their patients. All significant medical care must be performed in approved Lobby hospitals or under Lobby surveillance at least.

Doc Feldman, a caring doctor married the Daughter of the grand poobah of the medical lobby and has been labelled a "pariah" by the Lobby for performing emergency surgery outside of a hospital to try to save the life of a friend. If he is caught practicing medicine again, well... the penalty may be death! He is hounded by his wife who wants him punished. They are separated because of his "transgression". (I guess the good samaritan law got repealed)

He wanders, penniless and unemployable, but gets a crewman's ticket to Mars from a dead spacer. Mars is a crude frontier colony and they shelter him from the medical lobby as he dedicates himself to caring for the Martians.
He comes across the first martian disease which threatens not only Mars but Earth as well and embarks on a search for a cure with a few test tubes and a stethoscope; all the while being hounded by the Lobby and his wife.

Comment; The story is Ok, the social commentary about the way the world went may cause some pucker to anyone today who follows current events, but the medical science is totally stupid.
And, If I were Doc Feldman, I'd have killed my Bi*ch of a wife in chapter one-or any subsequent chapter she pops up in. Like a prior reviewer said. 'Not up to Del Ray's standard.

A very predictable story full of stock characters: The selfless doctor. The venal, vindictive ex-wife. The nobel pioneer. Not one of del Rey's better efforts.

Fast-paced science fiction novel, with a more contemporary feel. The story involves a medical mystery and political intrigue on a Mars colony. The plot has more science than action-adventure, but that doesn't make it any less interesting. The politics portrayed even seem plausible. ( Watch out for that health insurance lobby!) Worth reading.