Our President has just placed a pediatrician by the name of Dr. Berwick at the head of CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). This was done as an “interim appointment” to prevent Congress from questioning him in order to decide if his credentials and philosophy merited that important position. The White house wished to minimize any public discussion about this man. You need to understand why this was done. You must educate yourselves about the nature of his philosophy and his intentions for American medicine - including your training as future physicians.

Dr. Berwick was chosen by this Administration to run CMS because he has the will to implement a British Style health care system, which hinges on state mandated rationing of Medical Care. Such a system is based on Federal Budgetary decisions and statistical analyses. It ignores the individual patient at hand. Medical care has everything to do with the patient and individuation of care. That is the Essence and Ethos of the Practice of Medicine. Medical Ethics should be sacrosanct and immutable. They should not be conflicted by the exigencies or will of the ‘State.’

As physicians, whether or not you believe in God, I would hope that, at the least, you believe in Godliness. I trust that you follow the Golden Rule – “Do unto others that which you would have others do unto you” – or, as the Old Testament phrases it, “ Do not do unto others that which you would not have others do unto you.”

Observant Jews are told to remember their teachings by placing them upon their doorposts and by wearing them on their head and on their hand during morning prayers. Those daily prayers, uttered with a bound, outstretched, hand opposite one’s heart, are designed to remind us that we must suppress our personal desires in order to place ourselves in His service. The oaths taken by newly fledged medical students follow these same overarching precepts.

The majority of medical students take the Oath of Hippocrates (460?-377? B.C.). Called the “father of modern medicine,”* he began to remove superstition from the profession by applying logic and reasoning to medicine.

An extract of his oath follows: “I will impart a knowledge of the art to my own sons and to those of my teachers”…“I will follow that method of treatment which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.”

The 12th century physician-philosopher Moses Maimonides is reputed to have written an oath of his own. In part, it reads,

“Inspire me with love for my art and for Thy creatures” “May no strange thoughts divert my attention at the bedside of the sick...for great and sacred are the thoughtful deliberations required to preserve the lives and health of Thy creatures.”

“Grant that my patients have confidence in me and my art and follow my directions and my counsel. Remove from their midst…the whole host of…cruel people who arrogantly frustrate the wisest purposes of our art and often lead thy creatures to their death.”

“Should conceited fools…censure me, then let love for my profession steel me against them, so that I remain steadfast without regard for age…because surrender would bring to Thy creatures sickness and death.”

As physicians graduate from Medical School they take either the Oath of Hippocrates or the Oath of Maimonides. In neither case is one asked to consider the needs of The State. Just the opposite.

If, in the future, your medical school does not have you take the Oath of Maimonides or the Oath of Hippocrates, I beg you to do so on your own. Place one or the other near the door of your medical office, and read it daily.

Keep its message in your heart and in your head.

Why such an entreaty, at this time in our nation’s history? The reason is that Berwick’s Statist philosophies are not only being taught in medical schools but they are even being implemented in pre-med curricula.** The earlier such ‘training’ is begun, the easier it will be for the State to have mastery over you, creating conflicts between you and your Art, and sowing distrust among your patients.

Our government knows that physician behavior can be turned on a dime. Should we give two cents for what our government arbitrarily decides are our total heath care resources, and become caretakers for the State as it prepares a Global Budget for Health Care, or shall we continue to advocate for our patients and force those in office to battle us for all of our lives and welfare?

As you contemplate the outcome of the vector sum of your decisions and behavior, remember - All of us are patients. Your future is in your heart and hands.

Joseph M. Scherzer, M.D.

*World Book Encyclopedia

** “Train Physicians to Participate in Health Care Reform,” Skin and Allergy News, p. 12, July 2010.