Viewpoint

OP-ED: HEALTH POLICY IN FLORIDA

By Garrett Barr, M4 Florida State University College of Medicine, and Benjamin Schachner, M3 University of Miami Miller School of Medicine The impact and outcomes of health policy have never been as evident as they are now. It is easy to look to our neighbors in Texas as a jarring example. We firmly believe that personal healthcare, such as abortion, is between the physician and the patient. And we believe that public health is equally as important, and should have global policy set forth by our government institutions, such as in the context of COVID-19. In both instances, we want to make the call for more healthcare experts to get involved in policy making. When it comes to taking action and making policy changes, it is our civic duty as healthcare leaders to have a seat at the table and a leadership role. From medical students, physician assistant students, nursing students, business students, law students, college students, all the way up to professionals from all walks of life, we need more engagement overall. As medical students on the forefront of healthcare in our great state, our voices can be heard by joining our county, state, or national medical associations, joining other prominent lobbying institutions, or by later running for public office. As we look to our neighbors in Texas, the Texas Medical Association came out in opposition of Texas’s senate bill (SB) 8 of the 87th legislative session, and SB 4 of the recent special session due to language that criminalizes the practice of medicine and interferes with the patient-physician relationship. It is truly shocking to us that a health policy of this nature can be passed in the United States and strongly call on Florida legislators to not take up a similar bill. We say this now in light of recent news that Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson wants to Garrett Barr Benjamin consider an abortion heartbeat bill similar Schachner to the one in Texas in Florida’s upcoming session. As medical students, we can and should help influence policy and the care of our future patients. We should look at this service as our professional obligation to prevent the criminalization and misrepresentation of health policy by our legislators. Without executing this duty, we are only bystanders as abortion bills, COVID-19 related bills, and other meaningful healthcare bills are passed and/or debated in Tallahassee. Just as medicine is a lifelong pursuit in understanding the human condition, we need to continue to learn and evolve in order to create and influence policy that benefits our future patients and our communities. We just need more individuals to join us at the table and fight the good fight.

Author Acknowledgements: Dr. Christienne Alexander, Associate Professor, FSU College of Medicine