Viewpoint Justice Taylor provided insight into the funding and influence by special interest groups in the political process. He confirmed many of my concerns about political action by physicians. I would like to share some of the thoughts our discussion triggered in me about the role of physicians in politics. Physicians are viewed as hibernating through the political process.
Many political groups view physicians as sleeping giants.
Physicians have watched administrators and politicians change the practice of medicine, while often providing limited input into the process. Physicians are viewed as apathetic, while the opponents to medicine have stepped up their activity in the political arena. If physicians were to seriously donate their time and money to politics, then many changes would occur that would positively influence the practice of medicine. Many physicians consider it beneath them to become involved in politics. I recall a colleague who suggested that because politics are dirty, he would never give money to support the re-election of a state representative that was from our area.