Would you drop your Doctor if you knew he/she is a member of the AMA?

[pilsner]

The AMA is lobbying against single payer and a strong public option. Have others called their doctor to find out if the doctor is in the AMA? I understand only 20% of doctors are these days.

I plan to call and inquire with my doctor. I'll switch no matter what as he moved across town recently. But if he's in the AMA, I'll use that excuse.

[provis99]

1. Yes.

[lindisfarne]

2. Physician-members don't establish policy. 20% of physicians are members - some may be to get JAMA

(Journal of the American Medical Association) which is decent - written for drs to keep up on some of the new things.

A better question is: do you support the AMA's policy.

[pilsner]

5. You have a point

But it seems as if the AMA's policies are in the interests of doctors maximizing profits rather than providing the best care possible for patients.

I gotta beleive that if enough physician-members organized they could change the leadership which is helping to shoot true reform in the foot.

[wolfgangmo]

22. And not one of them would mind dropping their "subscription"

Most docs I know don't read JAMA and consider it at best the "People magazine" of medical journals.

If they tell you they are members for the mag, they may be full of caca.

[tammywammy]

3. No

I've had the same general practitioner for 18 years and he's provided excellent care this whole time.

[geardaddy]

4. I'm with you.

I have an internist that knows my history. All things considered, he's a good doc.

[sandnsea]

6. My doctor is moving

So I wanted to try to find a doctor who isn't a member of the AMA but I can't find a list.

[pilsner]

7. I seriously doubt membership is public knowledge

All you can do is call and ask. Most will think it's a selling point to potential patients to be in the AMA.

[emilyg]

17. You can find out if

doctor is member from AMA website.

[pilsner]

21. Membership list not on AMA website

I just spent 10 minutes trying to find out about my doc.

They wanted me to buy a $30 medical encyclopedia.

[emilyg]

30. I typed in my docs name

and it showed his membership. Wish I could remember which section of the site I used.

[grilled onions]

8. Follow Your Heart

Does your doctor listen with his(hers)? Does he seem concerned if you can afford your meds? Does he try to give you samples if he feels you are in a budget squeeze? Does he seem aware that many are struggling just to pay for that office call? These kinds of questuions will tell you a lot about where your doctor is coming from. At the same time inform them of the same. I was amazed at how little some doctors know about the cost of meds in general and not all of them are callous beasts! I had to inform my sinus specialists of the cost of a nasal spray and that I needed to at least try a cheaper brand since I was already "in the doughnut hole". We are the first link to educate doctors as to our plight. Don't be shy. Don't be embarassed. You aren't looking for a handout or a free office call. You just want them to see where you are coming from.

[tammywammy]

11. I had to change birth control due to cost

I was on NuvaRing which is awesome, but my insurance changed and it went from $15/month to $50. I told him I need to go back on the pill and he prescribed a generic. I went to a OB/GYN for a few years and I had asked her about a generic (it had just come available in the pill I took at the time, my pharmacist gave me a heads up) and she flatly refused to prescribe a generic (of anything, she said she doesn't prescribe ANY generics). Once my health problems were cleared up, I stopped going to that OB/GYN and that's one of the reasons.

[derby378]

9. No - it's not my doctor's fault

The AMA has actually served patient care very well over much of its lifespan. Their resistance to single-payer and public-option healthcare is a fairly recent development AFAIK, and I'm not going to blame my PCP for it.

[pilsner]

10. I beg to differ

The AMA played a large role to torpedo Healthcare reform in 1993.

The AMA also restricts the number of doctors which is a form of rationing and price gouging.

[Cerridwen]

12. The AMA "cut its teeth" on and validated its existence by fighting

against "socialized" medicine beginning 19teens or 20s.

You can read many of their concerns about their members' profits by browsing through that "liberal bastion" of journalism known as Time Magazine. Their archives are quite informative.

edit for an it's *sigh*

[wolfgangmo]

25. The AMA has NOT served patients. That is BS.

Try reading some of these (try to ignore the propoganda and see the facts)

http://www.sntp.net/fda/piper_griffin.htm - flexner report

http://www.amaapology.com/news12.html - AMA versus blacks

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/06/why_the_american_medical_assoc.html - AMA versus the public.

The AMA, among other things, was used to shut down black medical schools and alternative medical schools in favor of an all-pharma all the time approach. They have always been against public insurance. They have always been more of a trade organization and less about health. Their position is only about profit for the companies that pay for ads. Their first 2 presidents were con men for goodness sakes.

[fishnfla]

13. he saved my life

another doctor saved my wife's life
they can be in any club they want

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

14. No.

Get a life.

[emilyg]

15. No.

[pilsner]

16. I guess we're seeing why we'll probably get shitty health reform

People in Iran are willing to risk being clubbed by taking to the streets to stand up for their civil rights and the integrity of elections.

Most users of a liberal website in the USA are unwilling to press their doctors so all the people can get healthcare without the risk of bankruptcy.

Fuck everyone else, as long as my experience with the docs is AOK.

[emilyg]

18. My doctor saved my life. As long as he's

in practice - I'll go to him. Yes - he belongs to AMA.

[wolfgangmo]

26. Ask him to quit

See is s/he will. Ask.

You might be pleasantly surprised and you might get a nasty surprise. At least you will know.

[bemildred]

19. I have no doctor.

I have not given a nickel to the Health Care Industry in any direct way since 1999. So I have no leverage.

[XOKCowboy]

20. You have a doctor?

I'm envious.

[graywarrior]

23. Hmmmmm....yes.

[Hangingon]

24. No

[Mudoria]

27. No

[michreject]

28. No

I would follow him across town.

[MicaelS]

29. Absolutely not, I have a great D.O.

Don't give a crap about his politics or whether he belongs to the AMA. He's an excellent doctor, he listens to me, takes excellent care of me, and is willing to tell me when I'm wrong.

[yawnmaster]

31. no