Thread by @AgnesSolberg

A physician draft: wow. We are comparing doctors to soldiers now? Here’s the deal... a thread

1/ #covid19 #physiciandraft #meded

Soldiers don’t work for free. Even drafted soldiers. Don’t expect doctors to leave our families to work for free.

2/ #covid19 #physiciandraft #meded #RadCX

Soldiers are sent into battle with adequate personal protection equipment. This country is running out of medical PPE. Address this super stat.

3/ #covid19 #physiciandraft #meded #RadCX

Soldiers are ensured free health care, a disability system, hazard/combat pay, and other benefits for risking their life, even when they are drafted. I’m not seeing anything like this proposed for physician draft.

4/

#covid19 #physiciandraft #meded #RadCX

Soldiers, including military physicians, have a much higher barrier of LEGAL protection against liability - it’s almost impossible to successfully sue a military physician in a combat setting. This applies to drafted military physicians. 5/
#covid19 #physiciandraft #meded #RadCX

Soldiers go into battle with the knowledge, that in the event of the unthinkable, their families WILL BE TAKEN care of. There are many benefits for families of soldiers killed in action - are they enough? No. But it’s something.
6/
#covid19 #physiciandraft #meded #RadCX

So when considering a physician draft, consider what it is that you are asking. You are asking physicians to lv their families and risk their lives to fight for this country. Without pay, w/o healthcare, w/o adequate legal protection and PPE, w/o protection for our families. 7/7

Also, @NYGovCuomo attempted to put some language protecting doctors from liability in NY. Governor, it’s NOT enough. I beg you to read about Dr. Pou post Hurricane Katrina. Asking doctors to work outside of their specialty requires more LEGAL protection than your order provides

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Clarification.

I realize that not every service member has everything they need. As a veteran myself, I did not intend to disrespect our troops.

Overall, US service members are better equipped for combat than US healthcare professionals are equipped for this crisis (re: PPE)