Connect

You are invited to participate in the next Medical Center Hour, "Choose Your Medicine: Freedom of Therapeutic Choice in America" on Wednesday, Feb. 23, from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom.

Presented by Lewis A Grossman, PhD, JD, BA, Professor of Law at the Washington College of Law, Washington D.C. Moderated by Justin Mutter, MD.

About

"Choose Your Medicine: Freedom of Therapeutic Choice in America" 
Wednesday, Feb. 23
noon-1 p.m.
Zoom

Throughout American history, lawmakers have limited the range of treatments available to patients, often with the backing of the medical establishment. The country’s history is also, however, brimming with social movements that have condemned such restrictions as violations of fundamental American liberties. This fierce conflict is one of the defining features of the social history of medicine in the United States. 

In his new book, "Choose Your Medicine," Lewis A. Grossman presents a compelling look at how persistent but evolving notions of a right to therapeutic choice have affected American health policy, law, and regulation from the Revolution through the Trump Era. Grossman grounds his analysis in historical examples ranging from unschooled supporters of botanical medicine in the early nineteenth century to sophisticated cancer patient advocacy groups in the 21st. He vividly describes how activists and lawyers have resisted a wide variety of legal constraints on therapeutic choice, including medical licensing statutes, FDA limitations on unapproved drugs and alternative remedies, abortion restrictions, and prohibitions against medical marijuana and physician-assisted suicide. Grossman also considers the relationship between these campaigns for desired treatments and widespread opposition to state-compelled health measures such as vaccines and face masks.

From the streets of San Francisco to the US Supreme Court, "Choose Your Medicine" examines an underexplored theme of American history, politics, and law that is more relevant today than ever.

Medical Center Hour is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, see Center for Health Humanities and Ethics.

Watch Medical Center Hour recordings here.

How to Claim Continuing Education (CE) Credit for Medical Center Hour

How to Claim Continuing Education (CE) Credit for Medical Center Hour: Using the Google Chrome or Firefox browser on a phone, tablet, or computer, go to https://cmetracker.net/UVA and log into your CE account with your email and password. Choose ‘CE Certificate-Eval for Credit,' enter Activity Code 142473 then complete and submit your evaluation. You have 30 days from this program date (16 February 2022) to evaluate and obtain credit for this program. This is the only way you can receive credit for this Medical Center Hour.

In support of improving patient care, the University of Virginia (UAV) School of Medicine/School of Nursing is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. UVA School of Medicine/School of Nursing designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.^TM  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. UVA School of Medicine/School of Nursing awards 1contact hour for nurses who participate in this educational activity and complete the post-activity evaluation. UVA School of Medicine/School of Nursing awards 1 hour of participation (consistent with the designated number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM  or ANCC contact hours) to a participant who successfully completes this educational activity. UVA School of Medicine/School of Nursing maintains a record of participation for six years.