Leading physician groups oppose infringements on medical care, patient-physician relationship

On May 1, the AOA, in partnership with the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians and American Psychiatric Association, issued the following statement:

Our organizations, representing nearly 600,000 physicians and medical students, firmly believe the trusted relationship between a physician and their patient should never be jeopardized by the actions of policymakers, that physicians should not be criminalized or penalized for providing care and that medical standards of care and physician education training and education must remain evidence-based and free from political interference.

Our organizations have consistently opposed any legislation, regulation or executive action that interferes in the confidential relationship between a patient and their physician or undermines the provision of evidence-based standards of patient care and physician training and education. Patients must be able to discuss health issues with their trusted physician to determine together what care is best for them.

We reiterate that all patients must have access to evidence-based, comprehensive medical care, and that physicians must be able to practice medicine that is informed by their education, training, and experience without threat of criminalization. Politics should not get in the way of evidence-based care and a strong patient-physician relationship. We support our members and will continue to advocate for access to the full spectrum of evidence-based health care and medical education.