By Victor F. Greco, MD

President

Pennsylvania Medical Society

• React to this article in the Discussion Forum.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society has served nearly 150 years as the voice of physicians in this state. It continues to represent, by far, the largest number of physicians of any professional organization in Pennsylvania. We stand proudly on our record of advocacy. We will compare our legacy with that of any of the individuals who find it so easy to hurl epithets, even as they do little or nothing themselves that succeeds in bringing about positive change.

Physicians are faced with some of the most disheartening professional challenges in history. Societal expectations of physician infallibility and the resulting liability, managed care in the health care marketplace, hospital mergers and practice buyouts, generational differences within the profession itself — all contribute to the unsettled climate. For some, the Pennsylvania Medical Society becomes an easy target when you don't know who else to hit.

It is unfortunate that your paper did not include comments from many physicians in leadership throughout the Philadelphia region who are working actively with the Pennsylvania Medical Society. There are hundreds of physicians who know the Medical Society has a strong track record and also realize the multitude of critical issues that the Society effectively deals with on an ongoing basis. Our legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy are some of the best in Harrisburg. There are many who share this view. The Medical Society has never been more effective than it is today.

We would call upon the various facets of organized medicine — especially the county medical societies and the specialty medical societies — to put aside the rhetoric and focus on what collective strength could accomplish if working in partnership.

If we do not, those who seek to control health care decisions and development will find that physicians are unable to stand up to the challenge. And then we all become the easiest target of all.