It has been now over four months since Dr. Wes Fisher’s post
on the ABIM luxury townhouse and since Dr. Charles Cutler’s debate with Richard
Baron: events which began the exposure of the details of the ABIM financial
scandal.
It has now been roughly two and six weeks respectively since
Kurt Eichenwald’s Newsweek articles on the ABIM and its financial scandal.
While they have commented on the maintenance of
certification process at the ABIM, the American
College POT US
and the new Surgeon General addressing the “health effects of climate
change.” However, nowhere is there any
coverage of this huge story, a scandal that directly affects internists.
So: Handguns and
Global Warming from the ACP, but not a word on these very serious allegations
of fiscal impropriety at the certifying board.
How can this be?
Some suggest that the ACP has a conflict of interest in that
they profit from test prep materials and courses.
Some also suggest that there is a revolving door, of sorts,
between many of these organizations. A
case in point: the former longtime CEO
of ABIM, Christine Cassel, has listed on her bio at the National Quality Forum
that she is a Master of ACP and former President of ACP. So far as I know, no one at ACP has publicly
questioned her leadership while at the ABIM.
For the moment, however, put aside these thoughts. Moral courage (to overstate the ethical requirements
in this case, certainly) is not doing the right thing when it easy and
profitable. Quite the contrary, courage
is doing what is right when it is difficult, or otherwise against one’s
personal interests.
The ACP should do what is right on behalf of its current and
potential members and publicly express concern about the allegations of
financial mismanagement at the ABIM. At some point, the failure to condemn is
to condone. That point, if not yet behind
us, will be past soon.
In the end, can a voluntary organization afford not to speak on behalf of its
dues-paying members when the cause is right?
References:
Dr. Wes Blog: http://drwes.blogspot.com/
Newsweek articles:
