Accessing information Statement from leading physician groups on removal of data and guidance from federal websites “The research, data and guidance on these webpages are widely used by the more than 600,000 physicians our organizations represent,” the statement notes. Feb. 10, 2025MondayFebruary 2025 issue AOA Staff Contact AOA Staff Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email The statement below is issued by the American Osteopathic Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians and American Psychiatric Association: “The removal of datasets and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) websites to comply with the President’s recent executive order puts the health and wellbeing of patients at risk and makes it more difficult for physicians to provide quality care. The research, data and guidance on these webpages are widely used by the more than 600,000 physicians our organizations represent. Removal hamstrings our ability to provide factual, accurate information to the millions of patients our members serve. These resources are not just academic references—they are vital for real-time clinical decision-making in hospitals, clinics and emergency departments across the country. Restricting access to these webpages leaves physicians, scientists and other members of the health care community without up-to-date recommendations on managing infectious diseases, public health threats, essential preventive care and chronic conditions. Restoring these guidance pages is a public health imperative. At a time when emerging infectious diseases, antibiotic-resistant infections and evolving treatment protocols require rapid dissemination of knowledge, the removal of these resources places undue burdens on physicians and endangers patients. We urge Congress to ensure that the CDC, NIH and other public health agencies have the resources and ability to provide physicians and the public with the information they need to support the health and mental health of every person seeking health care in the U.S. Further, it is critically important that federal health agency officials again be able to communicate freely with the public, as the ongoing communications freeze is exacerbating the challenges posed by removal of research, data and guidance pages from federal websites.” More in Profession Mentorship, the single greatest solution AOA Trustee Joshua Lenchus, DO, shares his story of how mentorship changed his life. Early on in his journey in medicine, he met osteopathic physicians who saw potential where he saw uncertainty. Workplace violence in healthcare 2026: Medscape survey findings Over 60% of physicians working in medical practice offices told Medscape that physical security at work is a more pressing issue for them than it was three years ago. Previous articleOn-demand CME from past OMED conferences now available Next articleThe AOA’s most tenured staff member retires after 48 years of service
Mentorship, the single greatest solution AOA Trustee Joshua Lenchus, DO, shares his story of how mentorship changed his life. Early on in his journey in medicine, he met osteopathic physicians who saw potential where he saw uncertainty.
Workplace violence in healthcare 2026: Medscape survey findings Over 60% of physicians working in medical practice offices told Medscape that physical security at work is a more pressing issue for them than it was three years ago.
The specific consequences of removing information depend on both the type of content being removed and the broader context surrounding the action. It’s important not to jump to conclusions without fully understanding the implications. At this point, I’m not certain that our osteopathic organization should take a position on this matter. Feb. 13, 2025, at 12:34 pm Reply