Bad Medicine (film)


Bad Medicine is a 1985 American comedy film starring Steve Guttenberg, Alan Arkin and Julie Hagerty. The film was written and directed by Harvey Miller, and was based on the novel Calling Dr. Horowitz, by Steven Horowitz, MD and Neil Offen.
The film was criticized for its negative ethnic stereotypes. Although the film is set "Somewhere in Central America," it was filmed entirely in Spain. It was released by 20th Century Fox, and was one of three 1985 films to feature Hagerty in a starring role, the others being Lost in America and Goodbye, New York.

Plot

Below-average pre-medical student Jeffrey Marx, after being rejected by prestigious medical schools, is sent by his father to a seemingly sub-standard medical school in Central America. Jeffrey eventually discovers the plight of local villagers in need of medical assistance. With the help of fellow students, he illegally provides medical services to the villagers. Eventually, the school's authoritarian dean discovers the students' activities and decides to prosecute. However, the dean dismisses the charges at the urging of the villagers.