Problem: A young boy in rural Maine dies in a small hospital after an automobile accident. The family practice physician, on an emergency call in the hospital when the ambulance brings the boy in, works feverishly for more than an hour to save him, but the boy dies. The next morning, the doctor shares with you the feelings of hopelessness knowing the boy's life might have been saved if a neurosurgeon and more sophisticated equipment had been accessible to the hospital
1. Why does geographic location often dictate who lives and who dies?
2. Is there anything that might have made a difference in this young boy's treatment?