The AAFP Demands I Pull Down My Lecture
I hope the video of my talk from the DPC Summit helped some people but as I predicted there was a demand from the AAFP to take down the video. I was called and told at first it was the issue of having the logo of the DPC Summit on there. So, I offered to block that out. Then I was called again and said no, the AAFP (one of the three organizers of the event) just wanted it down. Yes, I own the content and yes, the DPC Alliance had no problem with me sharing it. Unfortunately, your wonderful friends at the AAFP felt strongly that itl not to be seen.
This was my email on 8/16 to them:
I would like to share my talk’s information with others who are asking why some DPC practices fail. I spent a year researching this and condensed it into this talk at the DPC Summit. I think it went over very well but others are asking to see it. I would like permission to do so as it is imperative to improve success in the DPC movement. My sharing (I would put it on YouTube) would not make any money for me so I am NOT doing this for myself but to help others. The DPCA says they have no problem with this. Can you give me the okay to help others?
Doug
After sending one more email and waiting almost two weeks I decided to put it up on 8/28. Within 24 hours they responded that I pull it down. Wow, why so quick?
Do they want docs to succeed in Direct Primary Care? I mean we really aren’t their audience. Who knows. I was just hoping that they would understand this talk would help others. I mentioned in the talk how important it is to give it back and pay it forward. I guess that doesn’t apply to them. Please remember that if you are a member of the AAFP when they ask for their annual dues. Also, feel free to contact them for more information about this. Their email is at the bottom of the DPC Summit page so I am not disclosing anything that they haven’t put out there.
So predictible
Doug – can you post it on sub stack ? Sounds like more censorship to me ! Angeli
No. I don’t need the legal hassles.
I was going to watch it today! ☹️
Why did they ask you to take it down?
Even though are 1/3 of the orgs putting on the Summit, they seem to have control and want to keep control
Oh man. I saved that to listen to over the weekend. 🙁
Surprise, surprise! I’m not. This is my struggle with the AAFP membership. I feel that if my DPC voice isn’t heard from inside the organization it’s easier to ignore. I will be emailing them about this.
Here’s a copy of my email.
To Whom It May Concern;
I’m very displeased to learn that you have requested that Dr. Farrago take down his publication of the recording of his talk from the DPC Summit regarding why DPC practices fail. This was a long-awaited talk for us to see what his year-long investigation brought to light so that we could, as a movement, help others who were interested in practicing this way have a better chance of success. He had requested to be able to put it out there for others who are thinking about DPC as an option to salvage their lives and their careers, yet you chose not to respond to that request in a timely manner.
I have been a member of the AAFP since medical school. I was never really involved in anything that was put forward until the DPC Summit in 2018. I’ve participated in the Summit every year since then. From my perspective, that has been the only REALLY beneficial aspect of my >25 years of membership, and quite frankly, it was a long time coming.
My interpretation of your decision can only be that you really don’t desire for Family Medicine physicians to succeed while practicing full-scope medicine independently, the way we all thought we would practice when we were working through medical school. My depth and breadth of education and training led me to believe that I could really make a difference as a physician in my community, keeping people healthy and managing their chronic medical issues while addressing their urgent needs. As an employed physician I was limited in the care I could provide because of the time crunch and the insurance-based decision by my employer that I see 25-30 patients in a day. My schedule was packed such that I couldn’t see any urgent needs, and woe unto the patient that dared to mention multiple issues or a new issue that arose since the time they had made their appointment.
Because of your lack of advocacy for my patients’ and my needs, I am a member of the DPC Alliance, Physicians for Patient Protection, and Docs4PatientCare. These organizations have our patients’ best interests at the heart of their work. Maybe the time has passed for the AAFP to really make a difference in medicine.
My only reason for maintaining my membership in the AAFP is that I have the belief that my voice is harder to ignore if I’m speaking from inside the organization rather than outside of it. We’ll see.
That was great. Thank you.
For the past 3 years, the DPC Alliance has been proud to co-host the DPC Summit alongside the AAFP, ACOFP and FMEC. This partnership has been instrumental in the recent growth and success of DPC Summit. As such, no decisions are made unilaterally by any one organization, including the request of Dr. Doug Farrago to remove his posted video.
For those who are unaware, the DPC Summit was started in 2013 by FMEC. They faced some early struggles, and the support of AAFP and ACOFP in 2014 was crucial to its enduring success. We look forward to continuing our partnership and growing DPC Summit into something truly transformational.
This was your email to my request on 8/16 where I asked if I could post on YouTube. As the executive director of the DPCA you responded: “Nope I have no problems…go forth and post (hit send then saw my brain read the question wrong)”.
Was that you?