Does our AMA delegation represent our interests?

Copy of an E-mail to FMA AMA Delegates:

Dear Friends and Colleagues:
I regret that I was unable to stay until the end of the meeting and especially that I missed the opportunity to witness our President's speech.
But I had to return to Miami to attend to my ever increasing patient load at my my family medicine office and my voluntary teaching commitments at the University of Miami.
I shared my frustrations regarding our delegation with our Delegation Chair and Vice-Chair and now with you:
During my almost fifteen year of service for organized medicine I now witness an increasing intolerance towards open discussion, political extremism and radicalization within our delegation.
Fear mongering, political stereotyping and demagoguery is now prevailing in the so-called " discussions", whereas the attempt to introduce opinions based on rational thoughts, tolerance for the diversity of opinions and the ability to reach a consensus is being marginalized. As a consequence hardly anyone dares to introduce his/her ideas or thoughts. I observed that many carefully gauge the political thermometer and based on the prevailing mood introduce their thoughts.Voice volume has replaced the value of rational consideration.
Most of us are more concerned to fall into political lockstep because otherwise they may not get elected into desired position within the AMA or jeopardize their delegate status. As an AMA Top-Outreach -Recruiter I speak to many different people trying to convince them to join our organization. In the last year I have witnessed a steady drop in AMA membership numbers within Florida. This does not surprise me anymore, because our AMA Delegation has lost touch with the members they supposedly should represent. Delegates often articulate the MOST extreme political opinions and even question the legitimacy of BELONGING to the AMA! How shall I recruit members if members of our delegation are openly ridiculing our AMA policies and leadership? Unless our delegation changes its behavior I cannot serve as a delegate in its midst.
This is a painful realization after years of service for an organization I admire and respect. But I have lost hope that our AMA delegation can be the platform for pragmatic political action especially in those exciting and challenging times.
Our leadership alone has the opportunity and responsibility to change that!
Change has to include: 1) Open debate and sanctioning of incendiary language,2) Respect for diverse opinions, 3) Fully transparent resolution development process, 4) Candidate and Leadership development based on personal qualification and not years of service.
These are the minimum requirements needed to avoid the political implosion of or Delegation.
Many will disagree with me but I honestly do not care how many times I am going to be called Fascist, Communist or Socialist. Those using this language are demagogues and wannabe "thinkers."
I remain focused on growing our AMA as a professional organization and NOT as a trade association. I remain focused to motivate a diverse spectrum of practicing physicians to join and rejoin our AMA. If these goals are not OUR goals then I have to part with you.

Yours truly,


Bernd