DR. MILLER GOES TO WASHINGTON - YOU SHOULD, TOO

Otolaryngologists, like most physicians, tend to avoid local, state, a nd national politics for a variety of reasons. Although physicians and their patients are frequently affected by policies made in these poli tical arenas, physicians tend to avoid active participation because of inexperience, lack of time, lack of knowledge about ways to influence policy development, rind a general distaste for the political process . Otolaryngologists need to participate in the process to ensure that their particular perspectives and concerns are heard. However, otolary ngologists also need to look beyond their personal or specialty intere sts to influence the broader health care debate. Before we are special ists, we are first physicians who have a fiduciary responsibility to m ankind tour patients) to improve the health care system for all Americ ans, We have a moral and ethical obligation to address, influence, and support health care beyond the specialty level. Health policy develop ed in an absence of physician input is missing the insight of expertis e and experience.