clout and more

[george boyer]

Al - I have to take exception to the way you come one, the tone of what you
say......there is no SPARK.  As someone who is supposed to have, here, a mantle
of the mentor, as one who has been around the track, you are a downer.  What you
say sounds like the observations of someone who is just too tired to care....and
that is NO help at all.  You almost could be a 'plant' by people wanting to keep
the amputee group cowed, passive and discouraged about taking control of their
destiny.  Now, the fact that in your last post you did come up with some
supporting examples makes me tend to think that your presence here is NOT
disingenuous or with malice aforethought, but, cheez.....TIRED, man, tired.

As for the body of your message below there is very little which could be
considered other than bromide, cold water on a wake-up call.

One thing I will specifically disagree with is your response here:

GB:         >>Amputees need to be weaned away from the medical model of
'patienthood'.>>
Al Pike:    I think it should be a partnership.

No partnership can be formed without first defining ourselves. My feeling is
that before amputees consent to any relationship they must build an IDENTITY
which will be forged in the unity of an organization like the AUA.  Identity =
solidarity.  Then, from this base we can engage in relationships with other
groups.  But first amputees must be weaned away from the abject passivity which
obtains now in their 'patienthood'.....which is deplored even by physicians
themselves.

BTW....in this morning's New York Times a news article about the AMA deciding
against considering whether or not to form a union of doctors to help in dealing
with managed care problems.  Well, that's just their take on it.  The 'doctors'
have other bases for unity and action.  We have nothing now which is (or even
seems to want to be) adversarial in our behalf.  Union = Unity!  If my scanner
were working I could post the article.  Perhaps Mike can post it.  GB.



AlPikeCP at aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 4/13/99 9:31:03 PM Central Daylight Time,
> phoenix2 at magicnet.net writes:
>
> << Of course, to give highest quality professional care to amputees, offering
> the best value he is capable of, and also to enjoy professional reward for
> his commitment.  This is what comes when prosthetists reclaim their rightful
> place in the healthcare effort.  There is a fight and a revolution ahead.>>
>
> I think we are seeing parts of that battle going on right now on the OANDP
> List over the consolidation of the three organizations that have evolved over
> 80 years. The battle if anything might be discouraging good and caring
> indivduals from entering O&P profession as their life's work.
>
> >>Always working to acquire and sharpen his professional skill and
> competence, such an individual soon becomes a master and earns his ability to
> practice independently.  The AUA's raison d'etre includes being adversarial
> as needed to secure professional competence and treatment, but this does not
> mean that we, as organized amputees, use the cudgel for its own sake.>>
>
> The opportunities to work independently have never been greater for someone
> wanting to "practice" prosthetists. In today's health arena the only way to
> survive is to be adversarial. I know I am that why with my own health care. I
> am a pain in the butt to my primary care physician.
>
> >>Amputees need to be weaned away from the medical model of 'patienthood'.>>
>
> I think it should be a partnership.
>
> >>Take a page from the history books Al, where the etiology of organized
> labor is there to read.>>
>
> What I am reading is that organized labor is dying in the United States
> because the need is longer there.
>
> >> I would appreciate your helping find some live wire union organizers to
> chat with, on line or or the phone.>>
>
> I have never been involved in unions and would have no idea of where to start
> looking. Maybe an Internet search with the words unions organizers?
>
> Al
>