Doctor tells Obama supporters: Go elsewhere for health care

Yeah, funny thing that his wife is running for Lake County commissioner as a Republican... h/t stevesmill.

MOUNT DORA — A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care "elsewhere."

"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical," Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist and a registered Republican opposed to the health plan, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."

The sign reads: "If you voted for Obama … seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years."

(snip)

Cassell may be walking a thin line between his right to free speech and his professional obligation, said William Allen, professor of bioethics, law and medical professionalism at the University of Florida's College of Medicine.

Allen said doctors cannot refuse patients on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability, but political preference is not one of the legally protected categories specified in civil-rights law. By insisting he does not quiz his patients about their politics and has not turned away patients based on their vote, the doctor is "trying to hold onto the nub of his ethical obligation," Allen said.

"But this is pushing the limit," he said.

AMA endorses House Democratic health care bill

First AARP now the AMA. Would be nice if the final bill looked exactly like the House version, but that's just a pipe dream.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The American Medical Association endorsed the House Democratic leadership's health care reform bill Thursday.

It's "not a perfect representation of our views," but is close enough to warrant the support of the organization, AMA President Dr. J. James Rohack said.

Rohack said the bill needs to be accompanied by legislation reversing scheduled Medicare reimbursement payment reductions to physicians.

Added-

Video- AMA president: Group open to government-funded healthcare

Wha? What am I missing here?

(CNN) – The new president of the American Medical Association, which represents the interests of the nation's doctors, said Wednesday the group is open to a government-funded health insurance option for people without coverage.

Dr. J. James Rohack told CNN that the AMA supports an "American model" that includes both "a private system and a public system, working together."

In May, the AMA told a Senate committee it did not support a government-sponsored public health insurance option.

(snip)

Rohack, who recently became AMA president, suggested Wednesday that the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program available to Congress members and other federal employees could be expanded as a public option. That would avoid having to create a new program from scratch, he said.

"If it's good enough for Congress, why shouldn't it be good enough for individuals who don't have health insurance provided by their employers?" Rohack said.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Video- Complete Speech By President Obama To The AMA

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I was pleasantly suprised by the amount of applause. Someone on the teevee said that this was his longest speech since becoming president, transcript here.