The AMA Epiphany
Talk about profound statements. The AMA has come out and stated publicly that:
“While immediate access to online information has been of great benefit to patients and health care professionals, the American Medical Association is greatly concerned that a substantial proportion of health information on the Internet might be inaccurate, erroneous, outdated, misleading, or fraudulent, and thereby pose a threat to patients and public health.”
Welcome, AMA, to the internet age and the year 1999. You really are in touch with the pulse of today’s doctors, huh? I guess their next warning will be about the Y2K issue with our computers?
This brings to mind again how poorly, if at all, the AMA represents most working physicians. Except for being in the SAMA as a student, I have never joined and still get JAMA and notices of dues renewal even 8 months into retirement. At one time I considered joining the “other” organization led by Dr. Jane Orient, but then I found that they’re libertarian, right-wing, anti-vaccine, etc., a little too far out. Makes me wonder if the National Medical Association, which I understand was begun mostly for physicians of color, would represent doctors better? Too bad I got through my career never able to feel a part of a professional organization that truly represented me…the AAFP surely doesn’t, even though I still get CME through AFP journal. Oh…anybody still getting CME on floppy discs for their Tandy 1000? Darn that Radio Shack for going bankrupt!
I respectfully suggest that a libertarian approach is most compatible with the traditions of western medicine and a healthy, ethical doctor-patient relationship. I was an active member of the AAPS for several years; I agree with you on vaccines, etc as distractions, and wish they had more exclusively focused on reversing the serious harms of government involvement in medicine.
I never bother with those internets, anyhow. I fire up my Windows ’95 to keep up with my ABIM MOC!
What’s with the word “might”?