page sections

Advocacy

 

(remember to respect all five elements of human life : five dimensions of health include :

 

 

 

JAMA 2004: 94-98.

Physician citizens - public roles and professional obligations

 

"the physicain is the natural advocate for the poor" Virchow

Some people's choices are limited, and we cannot blame them for aspects of life and health that people cannot control. Instead, we should advocate for them.

We need to have a more complete biopsychosocial view of patients who fall into this category.

 

Patient Advocacy

Advoacy needs to begin with identification of socio-ecomic risk factors

 

It is important to

There is often a welfare supplemental form that can garner patients more money based on specific needs, ie diabetes, hypertension, celiac disease.

Other assistance programs can be very helpful

Pharmaceutical samples can be a mixed blessing;

We really need to help patients navigate the system.

 

 

 

Social Advocacy

Many of the issues that affect patients are rooted in societal influences.

 

Our responsibility to our patients? our communities? our societies? our world?

 

POWER to change the world (coined by Lee McKay)

Participate in one or some of the many excellent groups working to address injustice, or in their grant proposals

Organize together: this gets noticed by media and government

Write: advocating from our professional position can be extremely helpful; can circulate

Educate: physicians, residents, students, patients and the public

Respond: take steps to address what you see

 

 

Additional Resources

Lanz et al 1998