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===Gun control===
===Gun control===
AAPS's position is that there is no evidence, from a medical stand point, to support gun control..<ref>
In 1996, Dr Miguel A. Faria, Jr., a retired neurosurgeon and former Clinical Professor of Surgery (Neurosurgery, ret.) at Mercer University School of Medicine as well as founding editor of ''Medical Sentinel'', the AAPS's journal, was involved in a gun control debate regarding the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|CDC]]'s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). Faria and other critics felt the NCIPC's program on gun violence was biased against gun owners, and was part of a 'public health' political strategy by gun control advocates. They testified before a [[US House]] Subcommittee on Appropriations to that effect.<ref>Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1997: Testimony of members of Congress and other interested individuals and organizations. Hearings Before a House Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Second Session, March 6, 1996, Hearing Volume, Part 7:935-970. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.</ref><ref>Faria MA: The Perversion of Science and Medicine (Part III): Public Health and Gun Control Research. ''Medical Sentinel'' 1997;2(3) 81-82. http://haciendapublishing.com/medicalsentinel/perversion-science-and-medicine-part-iii-public-health-and-gun-control-research</ref><ref>Faria MA: The Perversion of Science and Medicine (Part IV): The Battle Continues. ''Medical Sentinel'' 1997;2(3) 83-86. http://www.haciendapub.com/medicalsentinel/perversion-science-and-medicine-part-iv-battle-continues</ref> Faria wanted to defund the NCIPC entirely.<ref>
{{ cite web | url = http://reason.com/archives/1997/04/01/public-health-pot-shots
{{ cite web | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/04/az-aapsguncontrol-idUSnPNDC73885+1e0+PRN20130904
| title = Research Fails to Support Gun Control Agenda, According to Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons
| title = Public Health Pot Shots
| accessdate = 2009 10 18 | date = April 1997
| accessdate = 2010 10 21 | date = September 2013
| publisher = reason.com
| publisher = reuters.com </ref>
| author = Don Kates, Henry E. Schaffer & William B. Waters IV | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20091021043029/http://reason.com/archives/1997/04/01/public-health-pot-shots| archivedate= October 21, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}
</ref><ref>Faria MA: The Tainted Public-Health Model of Gun Control. Ideas on Liberty, April 2001. http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/the-tainted-public-health-model-of-gun-control/</ref> The CDC was forbidden by Congress to use taxpayers' money for gun control research and from participating in lobbying activities.<ref>Rochell A. Funding ends for study that drew fire of gun lobby. Atlanta Journal Constitution, May 2, 1996, p. A13.</ref><ref>Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Funding Opportunity Announcements, Additional Requirements — AR-13: Prohibition on Use of CDC Funds for Certain Gun Control Activities in DHS-CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/additional_req.shtm#ar13</ref>

Faria left AAPS in 2002 to pursue other interests.<ref name="AAPS website">{{cite web | url=http://www.aapsonline.org/alerts/journalalert.htm | title=Major Changes to AAPS Peer-Reviewed Journal | publisher=AAPS website | accessdate=2007-02-14}}</ref> He was subsequently appointed by the administration of President George W. Bush to oversee the NCIPC as member of the grant review committee of the CDC, which he did until 2005.<ref>
{{ cite web | url = http://www.heartland.org/publications/health%20care/article/11354/Faria_Appointed_to_CDC_Committee.html
| title = Faria Appointed to CDC Committee
| date = 2003 1 1 | accessdate = 2009 10 17
| author = Health Care News staff | publisher = heartland.org }}
</ref> He is the World Affairs editor of Surgical Neurology International.<ref>Faria MA. The Russian political turmoil (2012) An American perspective. Surg Neurol Int 2012;3:28. http://www.surgicalneurologyint.com/content/3/1/28</ref> Dr. Jane Orient remains the Executive Director of AAPS.<ref>Orient J. Healthcare is personal, it's not for sharing. http://www.aapsonline.org/index.php/site/article/healthcare_is_personal_its_not_for_sharing/</ref>


==Legal activity==
==Legal activity==

Revision as of 01:16, 21 October 2013

Template:Distinguish2

Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
FoundedMay 1944
TypePolitical advocacy group
FocusOpposes abortion, Medicare/Medicaid, universal health care, and government involvement in health care; publishes the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons
Location
Websitehttp://www.aapsonline.org/

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) is a politically conservative non-profit association founded in 1943 to "fight socialized medicine and to fight the government takeover of medicine."[1][2] The group was reported to have approximately 4,000 members in 2005, and 3,000 in 2011.[1][3] Notable members include Ron Paul and John Cooksey;[4] the executive director is Jane Orient, a member of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine.

The AAPS motto, "omnia pro aegroto" is Latin for "all for the patient."[5] AAPS also publishes the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons (formerly known as the Medical Sentinel). The Journal is not indexed by mainstream scientific databases such as the Web of Science or MEDLINE.[6] The quality and scientific validity of articles published in the Journal has been criticized by others. Many of the political and scientific viewpoints advocated by AAPS are considered extreme or dubious by other medical groups.[1]

History

During the winter of 1943, the Lake County (Indiana) Medical Committee opposed the Wagner-Murray-Dingell Bill, proposed legislation that would provide government health care for most U.S. citizens. Also opposed to the bill was the conservative National Physicians Committee. The committee began a membership drive in February 1944. By May 1944, the AAPS claimed members from all 48 states.[2] In 1944, Time reported that the group's aim was the "defeat of any Government group medicine."[2] In 1966, the New York Times described AAPS as an "ultra-right-wing... political-economic rather than a medical group," and noted that some of its leaders were members of the John Birch Society.[7]

Positions

While it describes itself as "non-partisan",[8] AAPS is generally recognized as politically conservative.[7][9][10][11] According to Mother Jones, "despite the lab coats and the official-sounding name, the docs of the AAPS are hardly part of mainstream medical society. Think Glenn Beck with an MD."[11]

The organization opposes mandatory vaccination,[12] a single-payer healthcare system[13] and government intervention in healthcare.[11][14] The AAPS has characterized the effects of the Social Security Act of 1965, which established Medicare and Medicaid, as "evil" and "immoral",[15] and encouraged member physicians to boycott Medicare and Medicaid.[16] AAPS argues that individuals should purchase medical care directly from doctors, and that there is no right to medical care.[17] The organization requires its members to sign a "declaration of independence" pledging that they will not work with Medicare, Medicaid, or even private insurance companies.[11]

AAPS opposes mandated evidence-based medicine and practice guidelines, criticizing them as a usurpation of physician autonomy and a fascist merger of state and corporate power where the biggest stakeholder is the pharmaceutical industry.[18] Other procedures that AAPS opposes include abortion[19] and over-the-counter access to emergency contraception.[20] AAPS also opposes electronic medical records[11] as well as any "direct or de facto supervision or control over the practice of medicine by federal officers or employees."[21]

On Oct 25, 2008 the AAPS website published an editorial implying that Barack Obama was using Neuro-linguistic Programming, "a covert form of hypnosis", to coerce people to vote for him in his 2008 presidential campaign.[22]

Political activity

Gun control

AAPS's position is that there is no evidence, from a medical stand point, to support gun control..[23]

Social Security

In 1975, AAPS went to court to block enforcement of a new Social Security amendment that would monitor the treatment given Medicare and Medicaid patients.[24]

AAPS v. Hillary Clinton

With several other groups, AAPS filed a lawsuit in 1993 against Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala over closed-door meetings related to the 1993 Clinton health care plan. The AAPS sued to gain access to the list of members of President Clinton's health care taskforce. Judge Royce C. Lamberth found in favor of the plaintiffs and awarded $285,864 to the AAPS for legal costs; Lamberth also harshly criticized the Clinton administration and Clinton aide Ira Magaziner in his ruling.[25] Subsequently, a federal appeals court overturned the award and the initial findings on the basis that Magaziner and the administration had not acted in bad faith.[26]

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

The AAPS was involved in litigation against Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), arguing that it violates the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution by allowing government access to certain medical data without a warrant.[27] (Title II of HIPAA, known as the Administrative Simplification (AS) provisions, requires the establishment of national standards for electronic health care transactions and national identifiers for providers, health insurance plans, and employers, and is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the US's health care system by encouraging the widespread use of electronic data interchange in the health care system.)

Seizure of Rush Limbaugh's medical records

In 2004, AAPS filed a brief on behalf of conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh in Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal, opposing the seizure of his medical files in an investigation of drug charges for Limbaugh's alleged misuse of prescription drugs. The AAPS stated the seizure was a violation of state law and that 'It is not a crime for a patient to be in pain and repeatedly seek relief, and doctors should not be turned against patients they tried to help.'"[6][28]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

On March 26, 2010 AAPS filed suit to invalidate the new health care bill.[29]

Other cases

In 2006 the group criticised what it called sham peer review, claiming it was a device used to punish whistleblowers.[30] The next year, AAPS helped appeal the conviction of Virginia internist William Hurwitz, who was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for prescribing excessive quantities of narcotic drugs after 16 former patients testified against him.[31] Hurwitz was granted a retrial in 2006, and his 25-year prison sentence was reduced to 4 years and 9 months.[32]

Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons

The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons (JPandS), until 2003 named the Medical Sentinel,[33][34] is the journal of the association. Its mission statement includes "… a commitment to publishing scholarly articles in defense of the practice of private medicine, the pursuit of integrity in medical research … Political correctness, dogmatism and orthodoxy will be challenged with logical reasoning, valid data and the scientific method." The publication policy of the journal states that articles are subject to a double-blind peer-review process.[35]

The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons is not listed in major academic literature databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed[36] nor the Web of Science.[37] The U.S. National Library of Medicine declined repeated requests from AAPS to index the journal, citing unspecified concerns.[1] Articles and commentaries published in the journal have argued a number of non-mainstream or scientifically discredited claims,[1] including:

A series of articles by pro-life authors published in the journal argued for a link between abortion and breast cancer.[43][44] Such a link has been rejected by the scientific community, including the U.S. National Cancer Institute,[45] the American Cancer Society,[46] and the World Health Organization,[47] among other major medical bodies.[48]

A 2003 paper published in the journal, claiming that vaccination was harmful, was criticized for poor methodology, lack of scientific rigor, and outright errors by the World Health Organization[49] and the American Academy of Pediatrics.[50] A National Public Radio piece mentioned inaccurate information published in the Journal and said: "The journal itself is not considered a leading publication, as it's put out by an advocacy group that opposes most government involvement in medical care."[51]

The Journal has also published articles advocating politically and socially conservative policy positions[citation needed], including:

Quackwatch lists JPandS as an untrustworthy, non-recommended periodical.[54] An editorial in Chemical & Engineering News described JPandS as a "purveyor of utter nonsense."[55] Investigative journalist Brian Deer wrote that the journal is the "house magazine of a right-wing American fringe group [AAPS]" and "is barely credible as an independent forum."[56]

Leprosy error

In a 2005 article published in the Journal, Madeleine Cosman argued that illegal immigrants were carriers of disease, and that immigrants and "anchor babies" were launching a "stealthy assault on [American] medicine."[57] In the article, Cosman claimed that "Suddenly, in the past 3 years America has more than 7,000 cases of leprosy" because of illegal aliens.[57] The journal's leprosy claim was cited and repeated by Lou Dobbs as evidence of the dangers of illegal immigration.[51][58]

However, publicly available statistics show that the 7,000 cases of leprosy occurred during the past 30 years, not the past three as Cosman claimed.[59] James L. Krahenbuhl, director of the U.S. government's leprosy program, stated that there had been no significant increase in leprosy cases, and that "It [leprosy] is not a public health problem—that’s the bottom line."[58] National Public Radio reported that the Journal article "had footnotes that did not readily support allegations linking a recent rise in leprosy rates to illegal immigrants."[51] The article's erroneous leprosy claim was pointed out by 60 Minutes,[60] National Public Radio,[51] and the New York Times[58] but has not been corrected by the Journal.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Meier, Barry (January 18, 2011). "Vocal Physicians Group Renews Health Law Fight". New York Times. Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c "Portent". Time. May 8, 1944. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  3. ^ Chu, Jeff (August 7, 2005). "Doctors Who Hurt Doctors". TIME magazine. Archived from the original on February 16, 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2007. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ AAPS (2002). "Volume 58, No. 10 October 2002". Retrieved February 14, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, website - About us page". Aaps online.org. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Erik M. Conway, Naomi Oreskes, Merchants of Doubt, 2010, p.245
  7. ^ a b "New Power in A.M.A.; Milford Owen Rouse". New York Times. June 30, 1966. Retrieved March 16, 2007.
  8. ^ "Membership Information". AAPS. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved August 1, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Hall, Mimi (July 22, 2002). "Many states reject bioterrorism law". USA Today. Retrieved August 22, 2008.
  10. ^ "Progress Report". Time Magazine. June 30, 1967. "...an ultra-conservative political-action group"
  11. ^ a b c d e Mencimer, Stephanie (November 18, 2009). "The Tea Party's Favorite Doctors". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on November 21, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "AAPS Mandatory Vaccine Factsheet". AAPS website. Archived from the original on April 05 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "AAPS Petition". AAPS website. Archived from the original on February 07 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "AAPS Letter Against Healthcare Reform". AAPS website. Archived from the original on April 03 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Principles of the AAPS". Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. Archived from the original on March 10, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Medicare Boycott Urged for Doctors". New York Times. August 5, 1965. Retrieved March 16, 2007.
  17. ^ "RESOLUTION 2001-1: Medical Care Is NOT a Right". Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. Archived from the original on April 05 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ The Standard of Care, from the AAPS website. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
  19. ^ Resolution passed by the Assembly – Affirming the Sanctity of Human Life, from the AAPS website. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
  20. ^ Comments re: Docket No. 2005N-0345, RIN 0910-AF72, from the AAPS website. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
  21. ^ "Model Resolutions". aapsonline.org. Retrieved 2009 10 17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  22. ^ "Oratory—or hypnotic induction?". aapsonline.org. 2008-10-25. Archived from the original on October 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009 10 17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ {{ cite web | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/04/az-aapsguncontrol-idUSnPNDC73885+1e0+PRN20130904 | title = Research Fails to Support Gun Control Agenda, According to Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons | accessdate = 2010 10 21 | date = September 2013 | publisher = reuters.com
  24. ^ "Review for Doctors". TIME magazine. December 1, 1975. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  25. ^ Pear, Robert (December 19, 1997). "Judge Rules Government Covered Up Lies on Panel". New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  26. ^ Lewis, Neil (August 25, 1999). "Court Clears Clinton Aide In Lying Case". New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  27. ^ Peters, Sally (October, 2001?). "Physicians Sue to Block HIPAA Privacy Rule". Retrieved 2012-03-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Doctors Group: Limbaugh Medical Records Seizure Unlawful". NewsMax.com. February 22, 2004. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  29. ^ http://www.aapsonline.org/hhslawsuit/aaps-v-sebelius-03-26-2010.php
  30. ^ Lawrence R. Huntoon (May 9, 2006). "Sham Peer Review: A National Epidemic". Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  31. ^ Roosevelt, Margot (July 18, 2005). "Why Is The DEA Hounding This Doctor?". TIME magazine. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  32. ^ Washington Post story, July 14, 2007.
  33. ^ Cite error: The named reference AAPS website was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  34. ^ "Medical Sentinel". Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  35. ^ "Manuscript information for authors" (PDF). JPandS website. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ "PubMed database". Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  37. ^ "Web of Science". Archived from the original on February 12, 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  38. ^ Environmental Effects of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide by Arthur B. Robinson, Noah E. Robinson, and Willie Soon. Published in The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, 2007; 12(3), 79.
  39. ^ Lindzen, Richard S. (2013). "Science in the Public Square: Global Climate Alarmism and Historical Precedents" (PDF). Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. 18 (3): 70–73.
  40. ^ Questioning HIV/AIDS: Morally Reprehensible or Scientifically Warranted?, by Henry Bauer. Published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons 2007: Vol 12, No. 4, p. 116.
  41. ^ AIDS – A Heterosexual Epidemic? by Michael Fumento and AIDS – Inventing a Virus? Commentary by Peter H. Duesberg, PhD. From Medical Sentinel, Volume 2, No. 3, Summer 1997. duesberg.com
  42. ^ Homosexuality: Some Neglected Considerations, by Nathaniel S. Lehrman, MD. Published in Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Volume 10, Number 3 (Fall 2005), pp. 80–82.
  43. ^ Malec, Karen (2003). "The Abortion-Breast Cancer Link: How Politics Trumped Science and Informed Consent" (PDF). Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. 8 (2): 41–45.
  44. ^ Brind, Joel (2005). "Induced Abortion as an Independent Risk Factor for Breast Cancer: A Critical Review of Recent Studies Based on Prospective Data" (PDF). Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. 10 (4): 105–110.
  45. ^ "Abortion, Miscarriage, and Breast Cancer Risk". National Cancer Institute. Archived from the original on March 09 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ "Can Having an Abortion Cause or Contribute to Breast Cancer?". American Cancer Society. Archived from the original on March 25, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  47. ^ "WHO – Induced abortion does not increase breast cancer risk". who.int. Archived from the original on January 13, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ Jasen P (2005). "Breast cancer and the politics of abortion in the United States". Med Hist. 49 (4): 423–44. doi:10.1017/S0025727300009145. PMC 1251638. PMID 16562329.
  49. ^ "Position of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety regarding concerns raised by paper about the safety of thiomersal-containing vaccines". WHO. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  50. ^ "Study Fails to Show a Connection Between Thimerosal and Autism". American Academy of Pediatrics. May 16, 2003. Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  51. ^ a b c d Broken Borders? CBS Lambastes, Hires Dobbs, by David Folkenflik. From All Things Considered, National Public Radio, May 11, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  52. ^ The FDA and HCFA (Part II): Unconstitutional Regulatory Agencies, by James A. Albright, MD. Published in Medical Sentinel, 2000;5(6) 205–208.
  53. ^ Conspiracy --- Part III, by Curtis W. Caine, MD. Published in Medical Sentinel, 1999;4(6) 224.
  54. ^ Barrett, S., M.D. "Nonrecommended Periodicals". Quackwatch. Archived from the original on March 28, 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  55. ^ Baum, Rudy (2008). "Defending Science". Chemical & Engineering News. 86 (23): 5. doi:10.1021/cen-v086n023.p005. Retrieved September 24, 2008. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  56. ^ "Bitter Heather Mills defends credibility as Wakefield anti-MMR campaign crumbles". BrianDeer.com. Archived from the original on February 04 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  57. ^ a b Illegal Aliens and American Medicine, by Madeleine Cosman. Published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Spring 2005 (Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 6–10).
  58. ^ a b c Truth, Fiction, and Lou Dobbs, by David Leonhardt. Published in the New York Times on May 30, 2007; accessed August 29, 2008.
  59. ^ New U.S. Reported Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) Cases by Year, 1976–2005, from the U.S. National Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) Program. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  60. ^ Lou Dobbs' Opinion, from 60 Minutes. Originally broadcast on May 17, 2007; accessed August 29, 2008.
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