Climate Change and Health

Daniel S. Berman

doi:10.7326/L16-0412

Letters |15 November 2016

Climate Change and Health

Daniel S. Berman, MD

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TO THE EDITOR:

In a position paper on climate and health, Crowley recommends that physicians “advocate for climate change adaptation and mitigation policies” (1). As an internist and infectious disease specialist, I find this recommendation difficult to follow. Such advocacy might also compromise my ability to influence patients in other areas of health care.

As a physician, it is my responsibility to analyze data provided in the medical literature and not just blindly accept conclusions that are stated even by prestigious medical societies. My education and training allow me to review medical data and come to conclusions about their reliability and importance. However, I do not possess the tools to analyze data from scientific areas outside of medicine, such as climate change, to form opinions. I respect the integrity and knowledge of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which states that “human influence on the climate system is clear.” However, without my own understanding of the science, I am uncomfortable advocating for the policies that Crowley recommends, especially when I might be challenged by persons with more educational background in this area.

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2016 American College of Physicians

Letters |15 November 2016

Climate Change and Health

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