Statement attributable to:
Jacqueline W. Fincher, MD, MACP
President, American College of Physicians
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 - The American College of Physicians (ACP) strongly condemns the acts of violence committed yesterday and the efforts to disrupt basic democratic processes in our nation’s capital. The images of the attack on our Capitol building, our lawmakers, and all those who work there are both disheartening and disturbing.
ACP continues to call for a peaceful, timely transfer of power, including full cooperation during the transition, to ensure stability and protect public health. As a country, we are facing an enormous threat to the health of all of our patients from the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions to our government have serious consequences for the stability of the health care system that U.S. residents rely on for care. Public trust in our government and institutions, and effective leadership at all levels of government, are essential to an effective public health response to the pandemic, including distribution and public acceptance of vaccines. Yesterday’s events threaten to further undermine both.
As physicians, we must be confident that strong, organized, prepared leadership will be in place in order to meet the challenges we are facing and to help heal our country and our patients.
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About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 163,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org