Medicine and Politics Don’t Mix?

Well, neither do oil and vinegar, yet the combo has a rather appealing flavor.  There is a way to have medicine and politics mix, and more importantly, a necessity.     For years, our profession has been able to ignore or at least stay out of politics.  But no longer.  While we were not paying attention, many things have been allowed to happen that we need to now work hard to change.

Believe me, I never thought I would be involved in politics or learning how it all works at this point in my life.  I did not pay much attention to anything that hinted at politics in school.  But as I became more dissatisfied with the business of medicine, I found myself getting more involved.  It has been an interesting education.

What was the hardest lesson for me to learn was that if you wanted to eat at the table, you had to pick-up the bill.  This means that our NJAFP-PAC needs your contributions.  Yes, my first blog is going to be an appeal for contributions to the NJAFP-PAC.  In our latest issue of Academy in Action, you may have read the appeal from Dr. Joseph Schauer, the president of our PAC, for donations and I wish to add a few points.  (The link to this issue is:  http://www.magnetmail.net/actions/email_web_version.cfm?recipient_id=137859757&message_id=938839&user_id=njafp&group_id=442222)

I have not been a big contributor in the past; in fact I still can’t be a big contributor.  I have always rationalized that I am not making that much money and cannot offer much of a contribution so why contribute anything at all?  Right?  Wrong.  We have over 1,000 members.  Even if every doctor, every member, could only donate $20/year that would give the PAC $20,000/year.  This would be huge for the PAC.  $20!!  That is under $2/month.  That’s the price of a cup of coffee or two cups of coffee a month.  Who cannot find or sacrifice $2/month to donate?   So I am asking you, please, donate something, anything at all is better than nothing.

Dr. Schauer mentioned our unbelievable defeat in the Chiropractic Bill.  This bill has now given the chiropractors of our state incredible scope of practice.  They can do diagnostics, treat conditions unrelated to the musculoskeletal system and with only 45 hours of “nutrition education” can now prescribe nutritional supplements and sell them from their offices (this was actually not legal up until now).  This bill was fought by every medical and paraprofessional organization; I mean everyone.  No one supported this except the chiropractors and their sponsor.  And yet, it passed.  We did not have the political clout (i.e. money) that we needed.  Sad to say but it’s true.    There is more going on in Trenton all the time and we need a seat at the table.

So I am imploring you to please send some money to our PAC.  This is just the beginning of our entry into the political arena and our fight.  Information on how to donate through PayPal is available on our newly updated website:  www.njafp.org.  Or, better yet, so the credit card company doesn’t get 3% off the top, send a check into the NJAFP made out to NJAFP-PAC. 

Kathy Saradarian, MD

Branchville, NJ