[LadyDoc]

the AMA has "delegates" who vote on stuff and the rest of us are too busy to pay attention to it. So no, they do not represent the average doctor...and some of their agenda is so leftists that they are losing members like mad...they now are threatening the AAFP (Family docs organization) that if more AAFP members don't join the AMA, then the AMA will cut their number of votes.

And many state Medical societies REQUIRE you to join the AMA if you want to belong to the state medical society...so many docs join and read the journal, but aren't involved politically. This allows activists-- usually non practicing docs like Howard Dean types-- to take over. You see, if you REALLY love medicine, you see a problem and fix it, and don't have time for sitting around a table for hours discussing nuances. So the few bureaucratic types and many docs who actually hate medicine end up representing us ...


I didn't realize they passed a gun control measure. The Pediatricians did, but they are leftist run. And the leftists are trying to take over the Family physicians too...

[BattleFlag]

LadyDoc,

Thanks for your reply.

"And many state Medical societies REQUIRE you to join the AMA if you want to belong to the state medical society..."

Wow, what you describe sounds almost like labor unions in that their political activism has taken them far from the beliefs of many of their members.

My workplace is unionized but I never have, nor will I ever be a member because I refuse to let a penny of my money go to support what the "parent" union supports on a national level and thankfully I live in a "Right to Work" state.

And I have co workers who feel the same way.

I think the same thing that you describe in the medical world is occuring with other organizations like the Parent Teachers Association.

Its kind of a shame really, because if these advocacy groups would leave it up to their membership to support whatever political causes they see fit, and concentrate on their core missions, their memberships would grow and they would, in the long run be healthier as organizations.