Answering the question "Why did the AMA do that?"

AMA Leader Commentary. By William G. Plested III, MD. Sept. 1, 2003.

AMA LEADER COMMENTARY

A few words about current events in medical practice

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A message to all physicians from William G. Plested III, MD, chair of the AMA Board of Trustees.

I'm always surprised when someone rails against a position that the AMA has taken on some controversial issue or another. The discussion almost invariably degenerates into complaints that the AMA is "out of touch," and that its leadership does not reflect the real opinion of doctors.

For the record, I disagree.

The AMA is one of the most open, democratic and inclusive professional organizations in existence -- and our policy-making process reflects that fact. The AMA House of Delegates, made up of 545 physicians, shapes AMA policy. Its members represent almost every physician in America.

Let me explain. The house is composed of physician representatives from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, 107 specialty societies, six sections, every branch of the uniformed services and several other physician organizations. Most physicians belong to at least one of these groups. Thus, the vast majority of physicians in the United States have representation. No other physician organization involves such a diversity of physicians in its policy-making processes.

So how does AMA policy get made? The House of Delegates meets twice yearly, in June and December, and debates a wide variety of issues facing the physicians of America, from public health threats such as SARS to Medicare payment problems.