Public support for doctors and nurses has waned in recent years, especially among conservatives, as the industry has faced abuse from masks to distributing puberty blockers to children.
The percentage of Americans who value doctors’ ethical standards has fallen from 77 percent at the start of the pandemic in 2020 to 62 percent by the end of 2022 — an unusually large drop of 15 points in two years, Gallup says.
Nurses — and even pharmacists — have also seen their approval ratings drop. They are all still far ahead of other professions such as lawyers, bankers and accountants, but the decline is sharp and alarming.
Discontent is especially acute among Republicans as more and more sections of society are drawn into the culture wars that are making America a more divided and perhaps even less stable nation.
Public support for doctors and nurses has plummeted as the industry has pushed for everything from ear masking to the distribution of puberty blockers to children
Doctors are still far ahead of other professions such as lawyers, bankers and accountants, but the decline is sharp and alarming
Medicine has not been spared, with arguments over transgender child care, the introduction of “woke” oaths at medical schools and masks, vaccines and other public health measures amid the pandemic.
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is leading the charge against the school guard, but has also attacked mask mandates and vowed to investigate “misconduct” by the National Institutes of Health and other national health agencies.
Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine, said “contradictions” in public health news during the pandemic and parental anger over the care of trans people have rocked the industry.
“All this led to the public having less confidence in the recommendations of medical experts,” said Dr. Goldfarb to DailyMail.com.
“Healthcare is in crisis, driven by political ideology. The solution is an evidence-based approach that relies on strong scientific principles to explain what care serves patients best.”
Too many, too strict COVID rules have been applied for too long for many, especially school children. Still others complained when the Centers for Disease Control said in 2021 vaccinated people could take off their masks.
A large anti-vaccine protest in New York City over vaccination and mask mandates in October 2021
The American Medical Association has a bust of founder Dr. Nathan Davis removed for racism
Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical adviser to the White House, has become the bogeyman for conservatives who questioned his handling of the pandemic and accused him of undermining then-President Donald Trump.
The provision of surgeries, puberty blockers and sex hormones to minors who identify as transgender, which has increased significantly in the past decade, has also angered some medical professionals, Dr. gold color.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups say “gender-affirming care,” as it’s called, can save trans children misery and even suicide.
However, some experts and parents warn against an ideologically motivated fad that will leave young people hurt, remorseful and even maimed.
Republicans across the country have sought to limit the procedure, especially among young people.
The DeSantis administration this week requested a trove of information about students undergoing transgender treatment at Florida universities, continuing its policy of challenging or restricting transgender treatment.
“The approach taken by many medical associations has also raised concerns, especially among parents who have seen their children exposed to the possibility of drugs and even surgery that can cause irreversible damage,” said Dr. gold color.
Critics have also decried the “woke” oaths being instituted at medical schools, including the University of Minnesota’s new mantra in which freshmen pledge to challenge white supremacy and embrace indigenous medicine.
The decline in approval of nurses and doctors is particularly acute among Republican voters
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis increasingly criticizes “brightness” in medicine
Others point to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) decision in February 2021 to remove the statue of founder Dr. Nathan Davis, who promoted racist politics in the 19th century.
Doctors described changes in health care policies and attitudes amid a wave of progressive activism during COVID and after the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by Minnesota police.
They also complain about stress, long hours and other problems at work. A survey by tech firm Qualtrics this week found nearly two-fifths of healthcare workers said they are at risk of burnout and are considering quitting.
Dr. Suneel Dhand, a doctor and life coach who works in the US and the UK and has a large online following, took to social media this week to express his concerns.
“When I was a medical student, I could not have imagined in a million years that it would be extremely controversial to tell a biological male that he does not need a pregnancy test or to tell an obese person that their body fat makes them very unhealthy.” goodbye,” said dr. Hand.
“God Bless American ‘Progress’.”
DailyMail.com has reached out to the AMA, as well as the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Board of Medical Specialties for comment.
They refused or did not respond.
Gallup, which has tracked the fairness and ethics of professions since 1976, says the public rallied behind doctors and nurses and the onset of the pandemic as they worked on the front lines and weathered a spate of deaths.
But that changed quickly.
“Pharmacists … now record their lowest ethical rating in four decades of measurement (58 percent) by one point,” the researchers said.
“Doctor ratings are at their lowest since 1999 and nurse ratings since 2004.”
At the same time, Americans are increasingly complaining about their standards of medical care.
For the first time since Gallup first asked this question two decades ago, a majority — 52 percent — of Americans rated the U.S. health care system below average, with 31 percent calling it “poor” and 21 percent “poor .” .
For the first time since Gallup began asking this question 20 years ago, a majority — 52 percent — of Americans rated the U.S. health care system as below average.
Doctors, nurses – and even pharmacists – are still far ahead of other professions such as lawyers, bankers and accountants, but the decline in support is sharp and worrying
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
