"The tactics outlined in your August 8  Politics & Policy article and the idea that a few lawmakers have "ordered up harsh treatment"  in return for physicians' support of the patients' bill of rights demonstrate the lack of civility that leaves so many Americans disillusioned with Washington politics.

    The AMA has worked for seven years in a strictly bipartisan fashion to win reasonable rights for patients in their dealings with HMOs. An orchestrated campaign to silence the voice of physicians as we advocate for patients sounds too much like the "gag clauses" that the insurance industry has used against physicians to keep patients in the dark about medical treatments they need.

Lawmakers from all political persuasions -- including many Republicans --- have had the courage to speak out for their constituents in the face of a multi-million dollar misinformation campaign from the insurance industry. A full 92% of AMA physicians support holding health plans as accountable as physicians through a strong patients' bill of rights; 85% of Americans support it. The AMA represents its physician constituents and their patients. We trust Congress will represent theirs."

Timothy T. Flaherty, M.D.
Chairman
American Medical Association
Washington

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