VOLUME 26, ISSUE 1
sufficient to shape political realities. The reality is that our legislative system often serves the loudest voice rather than the most qualified. If we allow interest groups to monopolize the legislative ear, we are allowing the medical care of our patients to be dictated by non-physicians, and our patients deserve better than that.
In addition to political advocacy, we must also be active in serving as advocates to the public. The media is an undeniably powerful force, and in recent years, the media has been notably ambivalent, and sometimes hostile, towards physicians. In addition to often promoting a general distrust of expertise and education, the media has also been unable to resist the trope of the arrogant, luxury-car driving doctor who abandons his patients in favor of a round of golf. Widespread endorsements of pseudoscience under the guise of “alternative medicine” and the fictionally more caring, wise non-physician providers further erode the credibility of our profession. It is hard to imagine that these media images do not affect the political discourse on some level. Perhaps more importantly, they also affect our relationships with our patients. Of course, we all work diligently to establish trust and understanding with our patients on an individual level. Engagement with the wider public, however, is necessary to counter these ubiquitous messages. This may involve physicians in
large media roles, such as nationally known writers and television news health correspondents, but also requires the participation of physicians acting more locally, whether educating the public via local media outlets or simply participation in the community. Regardless of the venue, education of the public about our role in healthcare is crucial to regain their trust and support.
Finally, it is critical to recognize the vital role of serving as a physician advocate to other physicians. We are at some disadvantage when it comes to advocacy in general; while we were spending our twenties in pursuit of medical training, lawyers, insurance company executives, and lobbyists were often learning to navigate the political system and the media. Doctors as a group sometimes underestimate the importance of this somewhat unfamiliar role as a political and public advocate. Additionally, the idea of just keeping one’s head down admittedly can be appealing given the demands of our profession and the tumultuous political environment. The plain fact is, however, that medical decisions are being made at an ever-increasing pace by bureaucrats and legislators. We owe it to our patients to advocate for our role in influencing and guiding these decisions, and we must encourage the members of our profession to demand a voice in healthcare policy discussions.
