Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Gregory has been in family practice in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for more than 30 years, during which time he has cared for three generations of local residents and earned a place as a respected leader in the community.Over the past couple of years, Dr. Gregory has grown increasingly concerned about the impact that human activity through the burning of fossil fuels has had on the climate and environment and, in turn, on the health of the public.After reading in the peer-reviewed literature and studying the science behind global climate change, Dr. Gregory decided to pen a letter to the local newspaper advocating for policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including the installation of carbon-capture technologies in coal-fired power plants.Mr. Peterson, a longtime patient of Dr. Gregory, mentions this letter during a routine visit.After they have discussed how Mr. Peterson is doing-taking all of his medication as prescribed, but admitting that he could do better with what he eats-Mr.Peterson says, "I read the letter to the editor you wrote in the Morning Call last week, Doc." Mr. Peterson is not employed in the mines, but he has several family members and friends who work in the coal industry."I'm concerned that all this talk about global warming will result in less coal being used and that will mean fewer jobs for us," Mr. Peterson says."And letters like yours, especially from a doc, don't help matters."Dr. Gregory replies, "I realize that there might be financial hardships for some, but it will cost all of us more, economically and healthwise, in the long run if we ignore the problem and do nothing."But after Mr. Peterson leaves, Dr. Gregory wonders if he should have prioritized his patients' livelihoods above more general public health concerns.Commentary "A physician is obligated to consider more than a diseased organ, more even than the whole man.He must view the man in his world."Harvey Cushing [1] "Medical education does not exist to provide students with a way of making a living, but to ensure the health of the community....If medicine is really to accomplish its great task, it must intervene in political and social life."Rudolph Virchow [2,3] www.virtualmentor.org
Source: The AMA Journal of Ethic
Authors: Martin Donohoe, Gordon Schiff
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4253714072