Citation

McLaren JR, Masiakos PT. Pediatrics 2019; 143(1): ePub.

Affiliation

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Academy of Pediatrics)

DOI

10.1542/peds.2018-2503

PMID

30541826

Abstract

On a day that marked the start of a new academic year for hospitals around the country, an editorial1 published by a fellow physician sparked a lively public debate. Titled “Doctors Need to Shut Up More,” the article was received by some as sage advice for both newly minted interns and their veteran mentors. However, its thesis, that doctors should limit their scope of practice to the biology and physiology of the human body, was met by many of our colleagues with vocal opposition.

The author’s proposition, a version of the popular “stay in your lane” reproach, was that physicians and medical organizations should not comment on contemporary, hot-button issues such as immigration or nuclear disarmament, because these are outside of their fields of expertise and may harm their institutional credibility. However, what the author neglected to consider is that physicians are bound by an oath2 to protect the health of all humans, not just those in the examination room. It is our adherence to this pledge that opens the door for a …

Language: en