[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 10, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IT'S NOT OUR FAULT IF WE ASK DOCTORS TO KILL PEOPLE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 1996

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, the Association of Managed Healthcare 
Organizations has sent Members of Congress a letter opposing the anti-
gag rule legislation proposed by our colleagues Ganske and Markey. They 
say, in short, ``it's not managed care companies' fault if they ask 
doctors to kill people.'' To be precise, the lobby group says:

       AMHO suggests that, if a physician believes that the terms 
     of a contract force him to practice medicine in a manner he 
     finds less than responsible or ethical, he should not sign 
     such a contract.

  It is exactly such thoughts that are fueling the national anger and 
backlash against managed care. Their letter could be nominated for the 
Marie Antoinette ``let them eat cake'' memorial quote.
  As managed care grows to become the dominant form of care in more and 
more communities, doctors cannot survive financially without signing up 
with a number of plans. Some doctors will have the courage and 
independence not to sign bad contracts, but doctors are human and to 
feed their families, most of them will sign. The Congress, as 
representatives of the public interest, has the duty to protect the 
public against Godfather plans presenting doctors with offers they 
can't refuse.

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