The American Medical Association (AMA) faced a tense atmosphere at its annual meeting of the House of Delegates in June. With hundreds of physicians gathered in Chicago to vote on key policies, the organization was grappling with how to navigate the changing political landscape under the Trump administration.
As the Trump administration began implementing policies that diverged from medical consensus and conflicted with AMA principles, the organization had been employing a behind-the-scenes advocacy strategy. This strategy, known as “quiet advocacy,” involved closed-door discussions with lawmakers to push for sound science, evidence-based medicine, physician autonomy, and higher payments. However, AMA members were growing increasingly concerned that this approach was not yielding the desired results.
In the early days of his presidency, President Trump signed executive orders targeting diversity initiatives, the science of sex, and gender-affirming care for youth. The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine critic, as the country’s health secretary further raised alarms among AMA members. Additionally, proposed cuts to Medicaid funding added to the sense of urgency within the organization.
Despite these challenges, the AMA initially remained silent on these issues, prompting calls from members for more assertive action. Laurie Lapp, an OB/GYN resident who served on an AMA council, revealed that members had been urging leadership to take a stronger stance.
In recent weeks, there has been a notable shift in the organization’s approach, with the AMA issuing public statements critical of the administration’s decisions. Interviews with AMA members and leadership shed light on the factors that prompted this change in strategy.
A pivotal moment came during the House of Delegates meeting when news emerged that Kennedy had disbanded the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and planned to replace them with vaccine skeptics. The AMA leadership’s initial response was seen as inadequate by many delegates, prompting a call for more decisive action.
The AMA’s decision to step up its advocacy efforts was driven by a growing sense of urgency and the need to address policies that threatened the core principles of the medical profession. By bringing its advocacy work into the spotlight, the AMA aims to ensure that the voice of physicians is heard and respected in the face of mounting challenges.
This article highlights the evolving approach of the AMA in response to the shifting political landscape and underscores the importance of advocacy in safeguarding the integrity of the medical profession.
