Putting patients first should be top priority
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Dr. Donald Palmisano, former president of the American Medical Association and
current spokesman for the Coalition to Protect Patients` Rights (Coalition) and
over forty doctors from across the country today urged Members of Congress to
slow down health system reform and do it right. The Coalition held a press
conference at the National Press Club to urge legislators to put patients first
when developing a system overhaul.
"The healthcare system is never closed in the United States. Hospitals never
have a holiday and there are no vacations for Emergency Rooms. There are always
patients who need care and we must ensure that care is always available," said
Dr. Donald Palmisano. "We are very concerned about the rush to pass healthcare
legislation - we want Congress to take their time and do it right. When I was
performing surgery, I wasn`t worried about finishing the operation quickly, I
was concerned about getting the job done right. Lives depended on it. Now, we`re
asking Congress to take their time and do health reform right. Lives are
depending on it."
Also participating in the press conference was Dr. Todd Williamson, a
neurologist from Georgia and the president of the Medical Association of
Georgia. In addition to serving as a member of the Coalition to Protect
Patients` Rights, Dr. Williamson is leading a group of 11 state, specialty, and
county medical associations who are speaking out against key elements of the
tri-committee bill.
"We believe that America`s physicians deliver the best medical care in the world
and we are united in our resolve to preserve the patient-physician
relationship," Dr. Todd Williamson said. "Patient choice must be a key tenet of
any health reform proposal. Implementing a government-backed insurance program
will not give a patient added choices - it will eventually allow him or her only
one option, the public option."
After voicing their concern about rushed legislation at the press conference,
doctors met with Members of Congress on Capitol Hill to talk about working
towards a bi-partisan solution that would help the uninsured obtain coverage
without negatively affecting the 250 million Americans who have health
insurance. The doctors expressed their fear that a government-controlled "public
option" would have an inherent advantage in the marketplace because it would
ultimately be subsidized by American taxpayers and a government takeover of the
American healthcare system would result. Consequently, millions of Americans
would be forced from a private plan of their choosing to a government controlled
plan, which would lead to long waiting lines to see a doctor, substandard care,
and the slowing of medical discovery and innovation.
Dr. Marcy Zwelling-Aamot, an internist from Southern California and a
patients-rights advocate said, "Patients must be kept at the center of
healthcare reform. As Congress takes the important steps to reform our current
system, we need to remember that at the end of the day it is the patient that
should be the decision maker about their healthcare, not the government."
About the Coalition to Protect Patients` Rights
The Coalition to Protect Patients` Rights is a non-partisan, grassroots
coalition made up of patients, healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and
concerned citizens who are dedicated to the implementation of patient-centered
healthcare reform that will improve patient care by strengthening health IT,
supporting comparative effectiveness research (CER), encouraging continued
medical innovation, and protecting the sanctity of the doctor-patient
relationship.
Coalition to Protect Patients` Rights
703-405-9407
media@protectpatientsrights.org
Copyright Business Wire 2009
