In 1960 the second season of Tales of Wells Fargo starring Dale Robertson had an episode called "Dr. Alice," about a young doctor from Boston who lost her husband the year before when in the West, and who was returning home when she was obligated to treat an outlaw and a woman giving birth. She didn't like the West and wanted to go home to Boston, but decided to remain.
It seems to be too similar to be a coincidence, considering that Dr. Alice came from Boston, unmarried and was a licensed doctor.
So did the creators of Dr. Quinn get inspired by that half hour episode?!