“While the national landscape for scientific research and medical care has become uncertain and worrisome, the Washington State Medical Association wants to emphasize its commitment to medical ethics, evidence-based medicine, and the science that supports it.
“Since 2005, the WSMA has embraced the AMA Principles of Medical Ethics. Those nine principles, among other things, call for a dedication to providing competent medical care with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights, respect for the law but with recognition of a responsibility to seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patient, and also the overarching commitment to regard the responsibility to the patient as paramount.
“The challenges we face today in health care policy making at the state and federal levels are constant and intense. Regardless, professional integrity and patient welfare must remain paramount. The WSMA will continue to provide accurate, evidence-based information to our members to support and empower appropriate and lawful delivery of care, to elected officials to guide the development of state and federal policy, and to patients to shield them from overt misinformation.
“At the foundation of the physician-patient relationship there must be trust. Without that trust, quality of care suffers. As physicians, we take that public trust very seriously. Our patients put their very lives in our hands. Knowing what’s at stake, the WSMA will continue to act as a resource, providing accurate, evidence-based information to help you care for your patients. We will, of course, continue to use our advocacy to fight against efforts to propagate false or harmful medical information.
“The WSMA reaffirms our intent to advance equitable care for our patients. These efforts are foundational to increasing health care access, improved outcomes and quality of life, and the experience of belonging in our communities. We will continue to strive for the highest attainable standard of health for all.
“The WSMA remains committed to building health equity and to the elimination of well-documented disparities to improve patient care here in Washington state. Such efforts are necessary to achieve the standard of health that is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation, political beliefs, or economic or social conditions.
“Finally, the WSMA will continue to provide education and resources for the profession and our patients on evidence-based care that enhance inclusive excellence and culturally sensitive care, with the continued goal of achieving equitable health outcomes for every Washingtonian. Only through these efforts will we realize our vision to make Washington state the best place to practice medicine and receive care.”
For more information contact:
Graham Short
WSMA Director of Communications
gfs@wsma.org / 206.329.6851 cell/text
About the Washington State Medical Association
The Washington State Medical Association represents nearly 13,000 physicians, resident physicians, physician assistants, and medical students across all specialties and practice types in Washington state. The WSMA has advocated on behalf of the house of medicine for more than 125 years. Our vision is to make Washington state the best place to practice medicine and receive care.