Page 22 - Layout 1
P. 22
2023 TEXAS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION WRAP-UP
The Importance Of
Physician Advocacy
By John J. Nava, MD
I begin this article with the writing of Khalil Gibran, a Lebanese
Do not live half a life American writer, whose work was introduced to me in high
and do not die a half death school. I never relished much poetry or prose earlier in life, per-
haps due to a narrow set of pre-med curricular interests. In any case, I
If you choose silence, then be silent
recently came across this work, and it seemed appropriate for the cur-
When you speak, do so until you are finished
rent state of political advocacy by physicians. If we can recall a few years
If you accept, then express it bluntly ago when the pandemic began, a novel coronavirus had been intro-
Do not mask it duced to the unprepared world. I observed a frantic public health re-
If you refuse then be clear about it sponse, which surprisingly was led by politicians rather than medical
for an ambiguous refusal is but a weak acceptance experts. Thankfully, between natural immunity from infection and a
Do not accept half a solution robust immunization drive, most of the U.S. population has developed
antibodies that have provided some protection against infection and
Do not believe half truths
reinfection. The pandemic has been downgraded to an endemic state,
Do not dream half a dream
and the world is adjusting to this as best we can.
Do not fantasize about half hopes I was alarmed that policy rather than science guided the response.
Half the way will get you no where Different people have opinions on who deserves the blame for the dis-
You are a whole that exists to live a life organization that characterized some of the public health response. I
not half a life. know other colleagues that were frustrated with a system that seemed
to dismiss the input of healthcare leaders. Keeping this in mind, I think
Khalil Gibran the situation represented a call for more involvement by medical prac-
Book: The Prophet titioners to shape future healthcare responses to emerging infectious
agents and other public health threats.
Risk communication and coordination of a response to public health
emergencies should be managed by trained and competent, qualified
Definitions:
emergency response leaders, not just the first or loudest person who
advocacy: any action that speaks in favor of, recom-
grabs the microphone. In my mind, this is a boundary that needs to be
mends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or
strengthened and respected. As we observe the closure of the most re-
pleads on behalf of others - Webster’s Dictionary cent U.S. Supreme Court decision, it is alarming that their decisions
are being guided by policy preferences rather than strict interpretation
advocacy: the act of pleading for, supporting, or
of the law. Failure of the medical profession to take this opportunity
recommending on behalf of person or cause to speak up now will likely lead to further instances where science takes
- Random House Dictionary a back seat to politicized ideology. When I was taught about the three
branches of the U.S. government, the Judicial branch did not create
law, only interpreted it. The actual laws themselves were created by the
Legislative branch and administered by the Executive branch. I suppose
it is naïve to continue to cling to that ideal, especially since it seems the
boundaries are no longer strictly observed. Perhaps I cannot understand
the blurred lines that used to be so clear.
22 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • August 2023
