FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 31, 2014
For more information on the 11th Circuit decision, contact:
Susan Stevens Martin, American Academy of Pediatricians
at [email protected] or 847-434-7131
For more information on the Coalition to Protect the
Patient-Provider Relationship, contact:
Cindy Romero, National Partnership for Women & Families
at [email protected] or 202-238-2600
Becky Martin, National Physicians Alliance
at [email protected] or 941-518-7051
11th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision Poses Threat to Patient-Provider Trust
Washington, DC — We, the undersigned members of the Coalition to Protect the Patient-Provider Relationship, a diverse national alliance of nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations, strongly oppose any inappropriate interference in the critical relationship between patients and their healthcare providers. We are deeply concerned by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ recent ruling on the Florida law related to gun safety counseling.
By upholding the Florida law that restricts licensed healthcare providers from counseling patients on firearm safety, the 11th Circuit has ruled that there is no First Amendment protection for physicians or other healthcare professionals who routinely ask about the presence of firearms in the home to provide essential safety guidance to patients and families. Research has consistently shown that firearms safety education, for both children and adults, reduces the likelihood of accidental injury and death, and is supported by leading medical organizations.
This issue extends far beyond gun safety; it is about the government’s interference in the patient-provider relationship. Such relationships are built on trust and respect. Laws that interfere with these relationships jeopardize the health of both patients and their families. Healthcare providers should not be restricted by laws or regulations from discussing with or asking patients about risk factors that could harm their health. The care and advice provided should be aligned with the best available medical evidence and clinical standards.
The plaintiffs in this case are seeking a rehearing, and the coalition fully supports their efforts to pursue additional legal remedies to safeguard the integrity of patients’ relationships with their healthcare providers.
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Pediatrics
American College of Physicians
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American Medical Association
American Medical Student Association
American Medical Women’s Association
American Nurses Association
American Osteopathic Association
Center for Reproductive Rights
Council of Medical Specialty Societies
Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health
Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Physicians Alliance
National Women’s Health Network
National Women’s Law Center
Physicians for Reproductive Health
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
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* The Coalition to Protect the Patient-Provider Relationship consists of nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations unified in opposition to inappropriate interference in the relationship between patients and health care providers. This relationship involves the private exchange of sensitive and confidential information through trusted, open, and honest communication. The Coalition maintains that all parties addressing health care should acknowledge and respect the unique nature of the patient-provider relationship and support the ethical obligation of health care providers to offer personalized, evidence-based care that prioritizes the patient. Views expressed by the Coalition to Protect the Patient-Provider Relationship do not imply endorsement from member organizations unless explicitly stated.
About the American Medical Student Association
AMSA is the oldest and largest independent organization representing physicians-in-training in the United States. Established in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, nonprofit association dedicated to voicing the concerns of physicians-in-training. For more information about AMSA, our strategic initiatives, or how to become a member, please visit our website at www.amsa.org.