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The American Medical Association warmly welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama
to its 158th annual meeting in Chicago. Like the president, the AMA is committed
to health reform this year that provides all Americans with affordable, high-quality
health coverage.
“We have a historic opportunity for reform this year, and the AMA
is actively working for health reform that covers the uninsured, makes insurance
more affordable, increases the value our nation receives from its health-care
spending and enhances prevention and wellness for patients,” said
Dr. Nielsen.
“Our message to the president and the American public is that the
AMA is committed to achieving reform this year so that all Americans have
affordable, high-quality health coverage,” said AMA President Nancy
H. Nielsen, M.D.
Highlighting physicians’ commitment to their patients, President Obama
said to a standing ovation that “you did not enter this profession to
be bean-counters and paper-pushers. You entered this profession to be healers
– and that’s what our health care system should let you be.”
“The relationship between a patient and physician is the heart
of health care, and we support reforms that preserve that relationship and
keep medical decisions in the hands of patients and physicians,”
said Dr. Nielsen.
President Obama also recognized that it
“will be hard to make some of these changes if doctors feel like
they are constantly looking over their shoulder for fear of lawsuits.”
He also acknowledged the cost of defensive medicine in the health system.
“We are very pleased that President Obama has expressed an openness
to medical liability reform as part of comprehensive health reform,”
said Dr. Nielsen. “Liability reform is clearly needed to help doctors
implement best-practices in patient care and reduce unnecessary health costs.”
President Obama said:
“I need your help, doctors. To most Americans, you are the health
care system.” He also told physicians that “I will listen
to you and work with you to pursue reform that works for you.”
About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association helps doctors help patients by uniting physicians
nationwide to work on the most important professional and public health issues.
Working together, the AMA's quarter of a million physician and medical student
members are playing an active role in shaping the future of medicine. For
more information on the AMA, please visit www.ama-assn.org.
News is included on the IvyRose website to inform visitors about current health
issues, but not to endorse any particular view or activity. Any views expressed
in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in
this news item was released by the American Medical Association (AMA) on 15
June 2009 and may have been edited (e.g. in style,
length, and/or for ease of understanding by our international readers) for inclusion
here. For further information, please visit their website.
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