Media Availability: Former American Medical Association President, Dr. Donald Palmisano, Shocked by AMA Endorsement of House Bill in Advance of AMA Meeting This Weekend.

Available for Interviews Now from New Orleans.
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
In advance of the upcoming 2009 Interim Meeting of the American Medical
Association (AMA) that is expected to draw debate about the group`s support of
H.R. 3962, the AMA announced their support today for concurrent passage of H.R.
3962 and H.R. 3961, U.S. House of Representatives health system reform bills.
This came as a shock to many AMA members, including Dr. Donald Palmisano, former
president of the American Medical Association and spokesman for the Coalition to
Protect Patients` Rights.

This came just days before the AMA 2009 Interim Meeting, scheduled to begin this
Saturday, November 7, in Houston, TX. One resolution currently on the agenda,
resolution 209, set to be debated by the House of Delegates states that the AMA
follow long-standing and extensive policy that would preclude such support of
H.R. 3962. Given the fact that a debate is set and consensus within days is
anticipated, today`s statement is especially perplexing and should undoubtedly
fuel a lively discussion in Houston.

A few weeks ago Dr. Palmisano traveled to Washington, DC with over 100 doctors
and medical professionals to present a second opinion on healthcare reform to
the President and the American people, which urged against a public insurance
option like the one that the AMA supports. Dr. Palmisano is traveling to
Houston, TX tomorrow to participate in the AMA 2009 Interim Meeting.

Dr. Donald Palmisano is former president of the American Medical Association and
national spokesman for the Coalition to Protect Patients` Rights.He will be
attending the AMA 2009 Interim Meeting in Houston and is available for
interviews.

Date:Saturday, November 7, 2009 - Tuesday, November 10

Dr. Donald Palmisano

Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD, FACS, is a clinical professor of surgery and
clinical professor of medical jurisprudence at Tulane University School of
Medicine and an adjunct professor at The Tulane University School of Public
Health and Tropical Medicine, in the department of Health Systems Management.
Dr. Palmisano is Board certified in Surgery by the American Board of Surgery and
a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, as well as an Honorary Fellow of
the American Psychiatric Association, the latter awarded for his national
advocacy for patient privacy and medical record confidentiality.

In 2003-2004, he served as the 158th president of the American Medical
Association (AMA).

Dr. Palmisano is the author of the book, On Leadership - Essential Principles
for Success and he has authored and co-authored numerous articles on a wide
range of topics including general and vascular surgery, medical liability
reform, patient safety, risk management and health system reform. He has
testified before Congress many times and has appeared on dozens of news shows
including Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Capitol Gang, Nightline
World News Tonight, Talk Back Live, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Crossfire, and
Fox News with Tony Snow.

The Coalition to Protect Patients` Rights supports reform that will help improve
the healthcare system, but is concerned that legislators are simply in a rush to
reform for reform`s sake. The Coalition has laid out a number of principles and
ideas that would help benefit the healthcare system, including:

1
We have the best healthcare in the world and any reform must enhance
that care, not weaken it, and it must keep the patient in control.
2
The government-controlled public option is bad policy and divisive to
the overall debate. This should be taken off the table.
3
Already Medicare reimburses less than the cost of providing many
services. There shouldn’t be any cuts to Medicare.
4
We should expand access to healthcare to the uninsured. There are
market-based approaches that can accomplish this goal without a
complete government overhaul.
5
Government should continue to fund and otherwise support medical
research.
6
The surest and quickest way to slow the healthcare cost curve is
through comprehensive medical malpractice reform.

About the Coalition to Protect Patients` Rights

The Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights is a non-partisan, grassroots
coalition made up of over 10,000 doctors, healthcare providers, advocacy groups,
and concerned citizens who are dedicated to the implementation of
patient-centered healthcare reform that will improve patient care. For more
information, visit the Coalition to Protect Patients` Rights website at
www.protectpatientsrights.org.

Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights
(703) 405-9407
media@protectpatientsrights.org

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