PROFESSIOND.C. surgeon touts own ideas for reform, giftsHe also seeks to block drug company access to physician prescribing history.By Andis Robeznieks, amednews staff. Sept. 20, 2004. Although he works in the political capital of the world, Washington, D.C.-based orthopedic surgeon Peter Lavine, MD, said he's not going to be running for office anytime soon, and that gives him the freedom to speak his mind without worrying about the consequences. "Because I have no political aspirations, I don't have to wear the cloak of political correctness," said the president of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and 1984 graduate of the Georgetown University School of Medicine. As the MSDC president and as a member of the AMA House of Delegates, Dr. Lavine has fought for medical liability reform and increasing the Medicare fee schedule. He also has taken stands that do not necessarily mesh with other leaders of the medical community. In particular, his criticism of the AMA policy on drug industry gifts to physicians has garnered him a lot of attention. Dr. Lavine received attention after calling the AMA policy ineffective and "ignored by most physicians," but he added that the media sound bites did not include the most important part of his message: That doctors who put the interests of their patients first are unlikely to be swayed to do otherwise by a fancy meal; that industry-sponsored education conferences are useful but also can be seen as a gift; and that he believes safeguarding physician prescribing histories will soften hard-sell tactics. "Physicians should not change their practice based on gifts -- that makes sense and is an irreversible principle," Dr. Lavine said. "I don't think people are going to change their practice parameters over a couple of steak dinners, I think the government attention to this is simply a smokescreen and propelled by their inability to do anything about drug prices." [...]Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
|
Feature articlesHealth reform review The Massachusetts experience Litigation stress Being sued is personal as well as professional Comprehensive coverage
Most-viewed
Nov. 9 issueHouse passes health reform bill, debate moves to Senate New database for out-of-network pay set to replace disputed Ingenix system Columns and series
From the vault: 5 years agoGenetic testing issues land in primary care practices Nov. 8, 2004 
|
SHARE
