Doctor-lawmaker

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | Feb. 20, 2005 | Bob Novak

[justiceseeker93]

Newly elected Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma is facing the same ethics charges leveled by the same literal-minded staffer who nearly forced him out of the House of Representatives seven years ago.

In 1997, the House Ethics Committee ruled that Dr. Coburn could return weekly to Muskogee, Oklahoma to deliver babies despite ethics regulations intended to prevent lawmakers from practicing medicine on the side. Robert L. Walker has moved from the staff of the House to the Senate Ethics Committee and is contending that stiffer Senate regulations prohibit Coburn from practicing his obstetrician's trade.

A compromise is being sought that would permit Coburn to "wind down" his medical practice, ending it after babies are delivered for his present patients. However, Senate Democratic staffers are talking about forcing Coburn to stop now, threatening the loss of his Senate committee memberships if he does not.

[justiceseeker93]

What on earth is the "ethics" issue here? What can be unethical about a qualified physician tending to the health care needs of pregnant women and delivering their babies, perhaps saving some lives in the process? A legislator practicing medicine on the side does not give rise to possible conflicts as would a legislator who would practice law.

[liberateUS]

I wonder how many Democrat complaints he would get if he was flying home to do abortions?

[Jim Noble]

If they are allowed to do anything of social value, it will reduce the probability of further socialist encroachments.

That's the problem.

[taxcontrol]

What an excellent opportunity the Democrats have handed us. Much hay can be made about how the Democrats are forcing doctors out of the medical field, how they do not care about the little guy, how the desperate women are having to scramble to find alternate health care, how this might jeopardize the lives of new borns, etc.

[KarlInOhio]

ethics regulations intended to prevent lawmakers from practicing medicine on the side

Does this go back to Dr. Kennedy's gynecology office and driving school?

[justiceseeker93]

I was thinking along similar lines.

[justiceseeker93]

You nailed it on the head.

Notice, also, that Dr. Coburn's medical practice probably doesn't conform to the tenets of Hillarycare - he might even be seeing some self-paying patients on a fee-for-service basis. Private medical practice is what really bothers the socialist mind set.