AMA President Gerald E. Harmon, M.D., wrote in Crain’s Chicago Business (IL) (2/4), “The AMA has advocated against the culture of violence in America,” and “while not a new occurrence, the reported uptick in intimidation, threats and attacks toward people in the medical field has been on the rise for at least the last decade – and has become even more of an alarming phenomenon since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.” He continued, “The AMA is deeply concerned about this threatening behavior and how it has contributed to an increasingly hostile working environment across medicine, particularly for those on the front lines of our nation’s response to COVID-19.” Dr. Harmon wrote, “Our AMA is actively monitoring this situation to consider how we can better leverage our strengths and resources to promote the collective safety and security of all health care workers and organizations under attack for championing equity and justice for their patients and communities.” He concluded, “The steps we take today to create a safer and more inclusive environment for all physicians will, in turn, create a safer and more welcoming environment for our patients – and our best chance to advance equity and improve the health of the nation.”
Related Links:
— “Threats and intimidation against doctors and health care workers must end “Gerald E. Harmon, Crain’s Chicago Business, February 4, 2022