Should Doctors Enter Into Politics?



Posted: Wednesday, June 22, 2011

by Dr K K Aggarwal
Heart Care Foundation of India

There is no restriction for the same in any code of ethics and the doctors enjoy the rights and privileges of free speech shared by any citizen of any country, said Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal President, Heart Care Foundation of India.

As per American Medical Association Code of Ethics Opinion 9.012, it is laudable for doctors to run for political office; lobby for political decision, parties or candidates and in every other way to exercise the full scope of their political rights as citizens. These rights may be exercised individually or through involvement with organizations, social establishments and political bodies.

Doctors can be a boon to the political system as they have responsibility of working for the requirement of doctors and to press for the proper administration of laws that are related to health care.

Unless doctors are in politics, they will not be able to propose changes to laws concerning issues related to healthcare, quality of healthcare services, scope of medical research and promotion of public health. We have examples of Dr. C P Thakur, Dr. Harshvardhan, Dr. Ashok Walia, Dr. B.C. Roy, Dr. Ramdoss, who as medical doctors have made into a full time political profession.
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