Share ideas Politicians are not omniscient. A surprising number of pieces of important legislation originate with a constituent's letter or phone call. If the legislator likes a submitted idea, the constituent need not be concerned about drafting the bill. The constituent physician can help by providing an outline of the key points, but each legislature provides lawyers who specialize in bill drafting so that bills are in proper legislative form. The ED physician has a unique insight into almost every major social problem society faces, from environmental degradation to adolescent pregnancy.
Emergency physicians are on the front lines and provide care for all kinds of people.
The thoughts and insights of emergency physicians will be taken seriously if seriously communicated to elected officials. When lobbying on issues that affect personal financial well-being, remember that legislators earn less than physicians. The author once observed a prominent surgeon complain to a legislative committee that fee cutbacks would jeopardize his second home. Although committee legislators did not demonstrate emotion during the hearing, the comments in the back room afterward were devastating. Build relationships During the legislative session, most legislators are swamped from dawn to dusk.