Last Friday, a team of PHR staff and members of the PHR chapter of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine visited Congressional offices to advocate for the Medical Neutrality Protection Act. This Act is a bipartisan bill introduced in May 2013 by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA). Johns Hopkins medical students shared their personal experiences and their own relationship to medical neutrality, which is the principle that governments must respect the proper functions of health systems in times of conflict and other forms of unrest. Lobbying from office to office in their white coats, the students left a lasting impression on Representatives and their staff. Several offices indicated their willingness to support the Medical Neutrality Protection Act shortly after meeting with the students.
The students’ dedication to the issue of medical neutrality is rooted in the commitment to provide nondiscriminatory care to all in need, a promise made in the Hippocratic Oath. The students are personally driven to speak out when medical professionals around the world are harassed, arrested, or imprisoned for providing care.
The full article continues at http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/blog/medical-students-tell-their-story-on-the-hill.html on Physicians for Human Rights’ website.
Physicians for Human Rights is a steering committee member of the Safeguarding Health in Conflict coalition.