Physicians’ Faulty Representation in Congress Gets Noticed

It appears that physicians are not the only group that has taken notice of the American Medical Association’s waning influence.  The AMA’s recurrent failures in representing physicians has also attracted the media’s attention.  In an article published by Axios on Wednesday, the growing dissatisfaction with the AMA from Congress’s Physician’s Caucus was reported.  Of course, Axios tried to spin the problem as falling on the backs of Republicans, declaring in its headline “Republicans break with another historical ally: doctors.”  However, a closer look reveals that the problem actually lies with the AMA. 

According to Axios, the Republicans have enjoyed an “historical alliance with the nation’s leading physicians’ group.”  In studying the AMA’s political support throughout the years, the author notes a definite rise in contributions to Democratic candidates over the past three cycles.  Although the numbers are accurate, the trend is not due to some Republican recalcitrance.  In fact, some of the trend can be explained by the AMA’s tendency to siphon its contributions to candidates belonging to the party in power.  Thus, the increase in contributions to Democrat candidates in 2020 and 2022 is predictably explained as reflecting the power balance in Congress and in the executive branch. 

Yet, more revealing are the sentiments quoted in the same article by various physician congressmembers about the AMA.  Physician Representative and physician  Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) noted shortly after his meeting with AMA leadership, “It looks like all you care about are woke issues.”  On the Senate side, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky) observed that the AMA “has been very much left-wing or left-of-center for a long time,” while voicing concerns regarding the misguided priorities of its subsidiary organizations such as the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.  According to Axios, the tension has led some political scientists to conclude that the Republicans were losing the support of “doctors.” 

This conclusion, of course, is bunk! 

Reports of the AMA’s decreasing influence is plentiful.  The organization that in the 1950s boasted a membership of greater than 75% of America’s doctors now only attracts an estimated 12.1% of physicians.  The reason was most succinctly expressed by Dr. Kevin Campbell, a cardiologist from Raleigh, North Carolina, when he wrote, “The AMA touts itself as speaking for all of us—but rarely listens to any of us—they work to fill their own pockets with dollars from big pharma and government.” 

Dr. Campbell’s comments serve as a natural transition to the pivotal problem in American medical advocacy: a) the AMA no longer speaks for America’s doctors; and b) whenever the press or leftist politicians need to back up their unsupported liberal positions, they ride the coattails of the leftist AMA, as if it actually represented doctors!

If Axios were truthful in its reporting, it would state that the AMA (not doctors) has lost its alliance with Republicans (not the other way around), which leaves us with a very troubling situation.  Unless physicians mobilize, they will continue to find themselves without appropriate political representation. 

First, their national organization is neither willing nor able to listen to approximately half the members of Congress.  Second, physicians’ positions are being ransacked due to the absence of any organized objection coming from the opposing side. 

This disparity is being addressed, as physicians who are dissatisfied with the inaction and misrepresentations of the AMA are engaging with a newly formed United States Medical Association whose goal it is to serve as “the voice of America’s doctors“ while “promoting the independent practice of medicine, the enhancement of medical technologies, and the development of medical science.”  If the USMA is successful in its quest, it will help balance out the one-sided, monopolized agenda driven by the biased, leftist forces within the AMA that act in the name of organized medicine.  And if that happens, doctors and patients alike will be the biggest winners of all. 

But the going will not be easy, and it will take all physicians looking for ways to defend their profession to actively engage in the fight. Here’s how can you help":

First, sign up for our emails.  Follow us on social medial (we now have accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. . . . more interactive opportunities will be forthcoming).  Join the USMA.  And contribute to the strengthening of our sword and shield, USMA Action . 

Also feel free to arrange a fundraiser or a meet and greet in you community.  We would love to go to your neighborhood, meet up with our colleagues and explain to them, in person, why the USMA and USMA Action are the best choices for medicine’s future.  Contact us by clicking here.

Perhaps most importantly, please refer your friends and colleagues to USMA Action.  Have them visit our website at USMAAction.org.  We are confident that as they become more familiar with our efforts, they will join and help us become the largest, most effective voice for America’s physicians. 

*USMA Action has applied for recognition as a charitable organization pursuant to federal statute 501(c)(4).  Contributions are not tax deductible.