OPINIONAMA an important corner of the triangleAMA Leader Commentary. By J. James Rohack, MD, Sept. 6, 2004. A message to all physicians from the chair of the AMA Board of Trustees, J. James Rohack, MD. Looking at the American Medical Association's tag line, "Physicians dedicated to the health of America," you might wonder how that can be accomplished. One answer might be found in examining what it means to be a physician in the first place. Since its creation in 1847, the AMA has recognized the importance of the government in the ability of the medical profession to function. That recognition was and is paramount. Since medical care is provided mainly at a local site in a state, the state government -- through the creation of medical practice acts -- has control of who can call themselves a physician and what constitutes the practice of medicine within the borders of that state. Hence, the state medical board's primary purpose is to protect the public through proper licensing and regulation. In the past, some referred to the medical profession as a guild. The hallmark of a guild is power and control over the association of workers, the workplace, the market and the relation to the state. A guild would define who could be trained, and control how many to train through its own self-organization and self-government. But, when physicians came together to create state medical societies and the AMA, they gave up some of that power to the state to allow the creation of medical practice acts to protect the public from those who would call themselves physicians without proper education or training. [...]Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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The doctors are in the house
The AMA's House of Delegates is holding its Interim Meeting Nov. 7-10 in Houston, addressing issues such as health system reform and physician payment. Meeting coverage - Slideshow Feature articlesHealth reform review The Massachusetts experience Litigation stress Being sued is personal as well as professional Comprehensive coverage
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