The conflict unfolding in Israel and Gaza has caused suffering and death on an immense scale. We have heard from many of our physician and medical student members expressing heartbreak and outrage about the human toll afflicting Israelis, Palestinians and others.
The American Medical Association stands with the physicians and health care personnel who are on the frontlines of this crisis and throughout the world who are risking their lives to provide crucial medical care to anyone who is injured. In these times of war, we must remember that physicians and other health care workers are there to save lives and ease suffering.
Policies passed by the AMA House of Delegates communicate physicians’ humanitarian responsibilities at times of war including: (1) implore all parties at all times to understand and minimize the health costs of war on civilian populations generally and the adverse effects of physician persecution in particular, (2) support the efforts of physicians around the world to practice medicine ethically in any and all circumstances, including during wartime, episodes of civil strife, or sanctions and condemn the military targeting of health care facilities and personnel and using denial of medical services as a weapon of war, by any party, wherever and whenever it occurs, and (3) advocate for the protection of physicians’ rights to provide ethical care without fear of persecution.
It is critical that medical neutrality is observed because physicians and health care professionals must have the ability to carry out their work and administer urgent care to those in need. We also support efforts to deliver humanitarian aid and medical supplies to those facing a humanitarian crisis.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
