GruntDoc sees through the AMA marketing gimmick

I too have been very frustrated by the AMA. I recently finished up a 3-year term on the AMA Council on Scientific Affairs and Public Health, which advises the AMA Board of Trustees and the House of Delegates. The reason that I’m frustrated is that clearly physicians need an organized voice to stand strong against erosion of the profession caused by oppressive legislation, managed care plan abuses, relentless commercialization by pharmaceutical interests, etc.

The AMA in its current incarnation lacks the focus, the authority, and the influence to serve this purpose. That being said, in its absence, who will speak for physicians in general? While many of us belong to our specialty and subspecialty groups, I doubt that the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (just one of the societies I belong to) will have much sway in Congress.

All that being said, I completely agree with GruntDoc. The current marketing campaign is ridiculous, and a deparate attempt to shore up a flagging membership. If the AMA doesn’t dramatically restructure to meet the true needs of the profession (and not just its current, limited, membership), then it’ll be a just a memory in 25 years.