opinion

AMA should educate Congress on the dangers of climate change

Posted May 16, 2011

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

Regarding "Confronting health issues of climate change" (link): It was heartening to read an editorial that discussed the health effects of climate change that physicians already are confronting.

Prolonged and intensified allergy and asthma seasons, heat-stress-related effects on patients with chronic cardio-respiratory illnesses, a recrudescence of subtropical diseases and more extensive distribution of domestic infectious diseases have occurred. As the editorial points out, these are the first of many climate change-related health effects that physicians will be confronted with.

The opinion piece then went on to describe the laudable education and outreach actions our AMA is taking to prepare physicians for the health effects of global climate change.

While encouraging to read in the article about AMA's action on climate change, it was ironic that during the same week the editorial was published, 50 U.S. senators voted to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its authority to take incremental steps to address climate change, and the House of Representatives passed legislation stripping the EPA of such authority.

Perhaps the AMA's efforts would be better directed at educating Congress about the evidence-based science documenting climate change with its adverse health effects on humans that physicians are currently encountering. The physician community can treat patients with climate-related illnesses, but only Congress has the power to actually address climate change.

Joseph Sokolowski Jr., MD, Medford Lakes, N.J.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/05/16/edlt0516.htm.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn