Here, however, is a report in the news bulletin of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons:
On Sept. 10, 1009, "Dr. Smith" went to Washington.
Nearly 1,000 physicians left their practices to travel, at their own expense, to the Capitol. After meeting with their congressmen, they came to a rally in the Upper Senate Park, organized by AAPS and Tea Party Patriots, to tell Congress to "stop meddling in medicine."
Speakers included physician/congressmen Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Tom Price (R-GA), and Paul Broun (R-GA), and practicing physicians representing AAPS, Docs4Patient Care, Physicians for Reform, and the D. C. Medical Society.
The event was prompted by the AMA's support of bills that would turn more control over to government.
"The AMA's endorsement of H.R. 3200 was bought and sold, at the expense of patients," said Seattle neurosurgeon Michael Schlitt, M.D., who spoke at the rally. "I couldn't stand by without telling Congress and the public that the AMA doesn't represent me, or most doctors I know. And it's time Congress listens to real doctors from the front lines."
Before the rally, two shifts of six physicians held signs in front of the AMA's D. C. headquarters: "Honk if you support your doctor," or "the AMA has sold out patients and physicians." Numerous people stopped to talk," reports AAPS president Mark Kellen, M.D. "They were genuinely interested in our point of view, and 9 out of 10 agreed with us that socialism is bad for America," he said.