Comments on: American Medical Association Apology Sparks Discussion on Race http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/07/american-medical-association-apology-sparks-d Daily dose of women's health news and media analysis Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:07:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/07/american-medical-association-apology-sparks-d/comment-page-1#comment-567 Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:58:19 +0000 http://ourbodies.s467.sureserver.com/blog/2008/07/american-medical-association-apology-sparks-discussion-on-race#comment-567 As a Mississippi Black physician, Baptist Medical Missionary and national advocate for health care for the poor and disenfranchised, I was glad to learn of the American Medical Association (AMA) apology for racial discrimination against black physicians. However, I feel the apology falls short of what is needed to bring healing and racial reconciliation to nation's black physicians. I consider the apology by the AMA for historic racial discrimination against African-American physicians a necessary first step toward the resolution of a greater problem. The apology does not include recent discriminatory policies and practices that have been supported by AMA leadership. I hope that former AMA President and board member, Dr. J. Edward Hill, will apologize for what he has done to undermine the medical practices of black physicians practicing in the poorest counties in America. Dr. J. Edward Hill, while President of the AMA, was a board member of the Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi (MACM), the primary company for providing medical malpractice insurance for Mississippi physicians at the time. MACM's all white physician Board of Directors refused to renew the medical malpractice insurance policies of several black physicians, forcing me to close my Christian Family Health Centers in some of the poorest counties in America, located for in the Mississippi Delta in 2004. I have never had a medical malpractice judgement or claim against my medical practice after over 15 years of service to the poorest of the poor. I believe the AMA must also openly and honestly address the issue of restitution from past and present policies and practices of discrimination toward black physicians. Let us not forget our black patients whose access to health care has been limited because of discrimination against black physicians. Black physicians have lost their practices and livelihood because of racism. The medical profession needs healing from the legacy of racial discriminatory policies supported by the AMA. I stand ready to work with the AMA to accomplish that goal. "DOC" Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. Founder & Chairman American Pain Institute (API) National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) Myers Foundation For Indigent Health Care & Community Development www.AMAApology.com www.Juneteenth.us www.njclc.com www.19thofJune.com www.AmericanPainInstitute.org www.MyersFoundation.net As a Mississippi Black physician, Baptist Medical Missionary and national advocate for health care for the poor and disenfranchised, I was glad to learn of the American Medical Association (AMA) apology for racial discrimination against black physicians. However, I feel the apology falls short of what is needed to bring healing and racial reconciliation to nation’s black physicians.

I consider the apology by the AMA for historic racial discrimination against African-American physicians a necessary first step toward the resolution of a greater problem.

The apology does not include recent discriminatory policies and practices that have been supported by AMA leadership. I hope that former AMA President and board member, Dr. J. Edward Hill, will apologize for what he has done to undermine the medical practices of black physicians practicing in the poorest counties in America.

Dr. J. Edward Hill, while President of the AMA, was a board member of the Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi (MACM), the primary company for providing medical malpractice insurance for Mississippi physicians at the time. MACM’s all white physician Board of Directors refused to renew the medical malpractice insurance policies of several black physicians, forcing me to close my Christian Family Health Centers in some of the poorest counties in America, located for in the Mississippi Delta in 2004. I have never had a medical malpractice judgement or claim against my medical practice after over 15 years of service to the poorest of the poor.

I believe the AMA must also openly and honestly address the issue of restitution from past and present policies and practices of discrimination toward black physicians.

Let us not forget our black patients whose access to health care has been limited because of discrimination against black physicians. Black physicians have lost their practices and livelihood because of racism. The medical profession needs healing from the legacy of racial discriminatory policies supported by the AMA.

I stand ready to work with the AMA to accomplish that goal.

“DOC”
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.
Founder & Chairman
American Pain Institute (API)
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
Myers Foundation For Indigent Health Care & Community Development
http://www.AMAApology.com
http://www.Juneteenth.us
http://www.njclc.com
http://www.19thofJune.com
http://www.AmericanPainInstitute.org
http://www.MyersFoundation.net

]]> By: anon http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/07/american-medical-association-apology-sparks-d/comment-page-1#comment-566 anon Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:25:50 +0000 http://ourbodies.s467.sureserver.com/blog/2008/07/american-medical-association-apology-sparks-discussion-on-race#comment-566 If the leadership of Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12 Step Fellowships could be as honest as the AMA, it would heal many wounds in people of color communities. If the leadership of Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12 Step Fellowships could be as honest as the AMA, it would heal many wounds in people of color communities.

]]> By: beastmomma http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/07/american-medical-association-apology-sparks-d/comment-page-1#comment-565 beastmomma Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:56:56 +0000 http://ourbodies.s467.sureserver.com/blog/2008/07/american-medical-association-apology-sparks-discussion-on-race#comment-565 That was a very informative article about the background of racist practices in health care organizations. While organizations now claim to be integrated, I think that there still needs to be a safe space for those not part of the majority to convene. That was a very informative article about the background of racist practices in health care organizations. While organizations now claim to be integrated, I think that there still needs to be a safe space for those not part of the majority to convene.

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