Contact: Kathryn Serkes (202) 333.3855
[email protected]

June 21, 2001

For immediate release:

(Tucson) -- The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) is asking Sen. John McCain to correct for the record his inaccurate statements about unanimous physician support for the Patients� Bill of Rights.

Doctors are NOT unanimous in their support for the Patients� Bill of Rights, despite the claims of Sen. McCain in recent interviews. The AAPS has very publicly opposed this legislation since the first introduction -- issuing statements and appearing at news conferences with Members of Congress to voice opposition. The AAPS "Patients Bill of Rights" was issued in 1995.

Ironically, AAPS, a high-profile national association, is based in McCain�s own state.

As stated in the 6/21/01 letter to Sen. McCain, the AAPS position on a federal Patients� Bill of Rights has been consistent and clear -- "It will increase premiums, decrease the availability of insurance plans, and line the pockets of lawyers and bureaucrats -- just as the Kennedy-Kassebaum bill did, writes AAPS Executive Director, Jane M. Orient, MD.

AAPS goes on to accuse Sen McCain of aiding and abetting the enemies of patients� freedom for what seem to be political purposes:

"We know what Senators Kennedy and Clinton want: a total federal takeover of American medicine. That will mean managed care without any escape (reread the Clinton Health Security Act). They are methodically crafting legislation that will achieve their goal, piece by piece, year by year. They strenuously oppose any legislation that will increase patient freedom. For example, they can be counted on to fight any expansion of the crippled medical savings account concept in the Kennedy-Kassebaum bill.

The letter concludes "Why are you helping them?"

AAPS, a non-partisan professional association dedicated to the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship and freedom for patients from third-party intrusion since 1943, will issue a patient alert about problems with the "Patient Protection Act" through thousands of physician offices in the next week.

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