Dear Physician,

If you believe that corporate interference with the doctor-patient relationship needs to end, please sign this petition.

The purpose of this petition is to support the call for a national prohibition on the Corporate Practice of Medicine (CPOM) among America’s physicians. A resolution to seek a national prohibition on the corporate practice of medicine is anticipated to be introduced at the Interim Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates in National Harbor, MD from November 11-14, 2023. 

Over a century ago, the AMA revised its principles of medical ethics, deeming contractual arrangements that interfered with the practice of medicine unprofessional. Subsequently, more than 30 states have enacted laws prohibiting or restricting the CPOM to protect the public. These are broadly unenforced. Today, nearly three quarters of U.S. physicians are employed by corporate entities, which are more consolidated, powerful, and short-term profit oriented than any point in history. Corporate ownership diminishes physician autonomy and accelerates replacement of physicians with non-physician practitioners to maximize profits. Violations of the corporate practice of medicine now represent a clear and present danger to the public health of the United States, and an existential threat to the profession of medicine.

The profession of law has kept the attorney-client relationship sacred by establishing ethical guidelines stating their practices cannot be owned by individuals or entities outside of their profession; Lawyers would be disciplined or disbarred for selling their practice to corporate interests or aiding and abetting the illegal corporate practice of law. Accordingly, clients of attorneys can be assured that no external interests are at play. Unfortunately, the profession of medicine cannot say the same. If you believe the physician-patient relationship is at least as sacred as the attorney-client relationship, and believe it is time for the house of medicine to take our profession back, sign this petition. 

Read about the AMA House of Delegates process for submitting a resolution and consider reaching out to the AMA at membership@ama-assn.org to voice your support.

To learn more and join the resistance - go to https://www.takemedicineback.org. Stay tuned for the white paper on the corporate practice of medicine - October 23, 2023.