Newly Adopted Principles of Medical Ethics
The American Medical Association
June, 2001
Principle IX: "A physician shall support access to medical care for all people."
Adopted by the AMA House of Delegates June 17, 2001
<http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/4256.html>http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/4256.html
Comment: Access and coverage are different issues, but the greatest impediment to access is the lack of adequate health insurance. Although access problems related to our health care infrastructure must be addressed, truly universal access is impossible without comprehensive, universal insurance. Creating a universal health insurance program is the greatest and most urgent priority if we are to realize this goal of universal access. Let's start the process now. After all, the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association has declared it to be unethical not to do so!