Attorney Drops TV Ad After MMS Physicians & AMA Protest

A Boston personal injury attorney has removed a commercial from a local television station after two past presidents of the MMS protested that the commercial misrepresented the American Medical Association.

The ad, purchased by attorney James Sokolove and aired repeatedly on a Boston TV station during the week of Aug. 27, stated, "The AMA says over 1 million injuries occur each year due to medical malpractice." The ad then encouraged viewers to call Sokolove's office if they have experienced a medical injury.

Convinced that the statement was incorrect, Barbara A. P. Rockett, M.D., and Leonard Morse, M.D., MMS past presidents, independently notified the AMA. Dr. Morse wrote, "If the AMA is not responsible for Mr. Sokolove's statement then he should retract it."

In response, AMA attorneys demanded that Sokolove stop using the AMA's name in his commercials immediately. "Our organization has made no such claim," the attorneys said. Sokolove withdrew the ad.

Dr. Morse said, "Every physician has the opportunity and an obligation to preserve the truth about our profession."

Francis X. Rockett, M.D., MMS president, said, "Individual physicians can -- and do -- make a big difference in this important arena. If we don't act, who will?"