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Unfortunately, Washington is going to have an increasingly loud
voice in how we practice medicine. They will determine the relationship we have with our patients. The only way we can affect the
outcome is to put more physicians in Congress. Twenty physicians
are currently serving in Congress, including three Senators. That
gives us 3.7 percent representation. Lawyers, on the other hand, are
43 percent of House members, 60 percent of the Senate. While I’d
much rather remain in the operating room, it seems Washington
is the only place to go to make a stand.
Am I still practicing? Yes. I am not in the financial position to
jump into full-time campaigning this early. It is abundantly clear
why Congress is populated with multimillionaires like my opponent.
The political pros never cease reminding me of the need to raise
campaign funds.
Maintaining my practice has been a challenge. I have cut my hours
by about 50 percent in order to straddle the requirements of campaigning and keeping the lights on both at home and in the office.
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LOUISVILLE MEDICINE
Fortunately, a grueling surgical residency and decades of practice
have prepared me well for the ordeal.
I have spent the last 60 years as a patient and more than 30 as a
practicing physician. I can assure you that if I am given the honor
of serving as the representative for Louisville, I will put the interests of the patient and physician, as well as every citizen, as my top
responsibility.
And one last question - would I do it again? Hmmm... Ask me
in November. LM
Note: Dr. Macfarlane practices Urological Surgery with Urology
Care LLC.