We are deeply disappointed about the mischaracterization of the AMA and our quarter-million physician and medical student members. The fact is, AMA is committed to health reform this year that provides all Americans with affordable, high-quality health coverage. Over the last few years, we have invested more than $15 million in our Voice for the Uninsured campaign to call attention to the uninsured crisis and lay the groundwork for health reform that gets all Americans covered. The term “public plan” has so many different meanings that it confuses more than informs the debate. As the nation’s largest physician organization, we have made it perfectly clear that we welcome and will thoughtfully consider all proposals consistent with the principles of pluralism, freedom of choice, freedom of practice, and universal access for patients. Clearly, Dr. McCoy has strong feelings about health reform, so we urge him to engage – not quit. Our members make AMA policy through a democratic process that includes physician and medical student delegates from all state and specialty medical societies, as well as groups representing medical students, residents, medical schools, and the medical corps of the U.S. uniformed services. No other physician group in the nation allows all physicians a voice in the future of medicine in our country. We urge all physicians to join us in our quest to pass health-care reform this year that benefits every patient and doctor. J. James Rohack, M.D. President, American Medical Association