Physicians in the United States Congress

Physicians in the United States Congress have been a small minority, but substantially overrepresent the number of practicing physicians in the United States.^[1] As of 2014, there were 19 physicians serving as members of United States Congress; this was twice as many as a decade prior. The number of physicians serving and running for Congress has risen with increasing health care spending, increased health care reform debate in the United States, including the Healthcare Reform Act. Physicians in Congress have received large campaign contributions from health care trade associations and from peers through physician associations.

History

In 1776, 11 percent of signers of the Declaration of Independence were physicians.^[2] Likewise two (5 percent) of the 39 individuals crafting the US Constitution in 1787 were physicians.^[3] During the first 100 years of Congress (1789–1889) 252 (or 4.6 percent) of 5405 members were physicians. At the beginning of each of the last five decades there were five (1960), three (1970), four (1980), two (1990), and 10 (2000) physicians in Congress,^[4]

As of 2013 and 2014 there were 21 physicians, including one woman in Congress.^[5] There were 17 physicians and 2 veterinarians as of 2015, all of them male. Three quarters of physicians in Congress 2014 and 2015 were Republican, see table below.

Physicians in the 113th Congress

† 2009/2014 cycle

Physicians in the 114th Congress

† 2009/2014 cycle

Running for Congress 2014

Senate candidates in 2014 included "an obstetrician in North Carolina, Milton Wolf, a radiologist in Kansas, a liver disease specialist in Louisiana, and Representatives Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey in Georgia — all of them Republicans. At least 26 more physicians were running for the House, some for re-election." per a New York Times article from March 2014 ^[25]

Motivations

Tom Coburn said, "physicians have watched the profession undergo tremendous realignments that are shifting doctors’ responsibilities away from patient care, changes they attribute to the government’s inefficacy".^[25] Jim McDermott, was quoted as saying "They want to have their hands right there on the handle so they can pull it one way or another."^[25] Physicians "balked at the idea of lawmakers with no medical experience making decisions that could upend the profession", per Andy Harris.^[25]

Kelley Paul, wife of Rand Paul said, when he made his 2016 White House bid, "Being a physician gives Rand a unique perspective in Washington, simply because he’s trained to diagnose a problem and find a solution." ^[26]

References

External links

• Physicians in the Senate senate.gov accessed 28 May 2015