Usually when the Obama administration is discussing doctors and health issues, Obamacare is on the table. Thursday, however, the White House threw a curve by linking health to climate change. In a new blog post, the White House declares that “7 out of 10 Doctors [say] Climate Change Is Already Harming Patients’ Health.” While often the White House has been a source of upbeat reports on recent health improvements attributed in part to the Affordable Care Act, the language of this post stands in sharp contrast. For example:
The survey cited by the White House was conducted by the American Thoracic Society, a group of over 15,000 doctors, researchers, nurses, and other health professionals with a focus on “research, clinical care, and public health in respiratory disease, critical illness, and sleep disorders.” Although 5,500 members were randomly selected for invitations to participate in the survey, only 17 percent responded. Of the 915 respondents, 65 percent (rounded to 7 in 10 by the White House) agreed that climate change is ‘relevant to patient care” either “a great deal” or “a moderate amount.”
The White House also cites, but does not link to, a survey of the National Medical Association’s membership whose results are said to be in line with the American Thoracic Society survey. (The National Medical Association, according to its website, “promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African descent”, and is distinct from the more well known American Medical Association.) The survey to which the White House apparently refers can be found at climatechangecommunication.org and indeed reports that respondents felt that “climate change is affecting the health of their own patients a great deal or a moderate amount (61 percent).” This survey had a response rate of 30 percent, or 284 respondents.
According to the White House, representatives of the American Thoracic Society were on Capitol Hill Thursday to “educate” representatives about the survey results to help push Congress to support the president’s climate initiatives.
