BY BRYAN KAY
Joining other bodies of medical professionals, the two organizations highlighted the sacred oath taken by physicians to “save and extend the quality of life” of all people. They went on to state that as membership groups they abhorred “injustice and violence of any kind.”
Medical bodies had come under renewed pressure to take action to help address systemic racism as it exists in the medical profession and healthcare.
The full statement reads: “The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) and the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery (APDVS) embrace the core values of diversity, inclusion, fairness and equity.
“As organizations of physicians and healthcare practitioners, we value human life, and have taken a sacred oath to save and extend quality of life for all of our patients. Racism, discrimination and inequity of any kind undermines public health and our healthcare delivery systems. The SVS and APDVS abhor injustice and violence of any kind, wherever and whenever it occurs. We are horrified by the events surrounding the death of George Floyd as well as the subsequent acts of violence that have come amidst peaceful protest for change across our nation. We must come together with wisdom and meaningful action to address these events. The SVS stands firmly with all of its members, who stand with their patients, their families and their communities. We hope for peace, calm, wisdom and positive action in the coming days.”