LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY

December 7, 1995

TO:
AMA Delegates and Alternate Delegates
Presidents and Executive Directors
of State Medical Associations
National Medical Specialty Societies

Dear Colleague:

The Louisiana State Medical Society, the Orleans Parish Medical Society, and the Louisiana Delegation to the American Medical Association are pleased to announce their endorsement and support for the candidacy of Donald J. Palmisano, M.D., J.D. for election to our AMA Board of Trustees at the 1996 Annual Meeting.

Donald brings to this election an outstanding record of service and experience at all levels of organized medicine. As a former president of the Louisiana State Medical Society and a private practicing physician, he is keenly aware of the concerns that face our colleagues daily. As an attorney with special expertise in risk management and claims negotiation, he has channeled his education and experience to assist his fellow physicians and health care entities in dealing with professional liability issues. As an activist concerned about the environment in which we practice, he has demonstrated his political abilities by helping to enact legislation that has calmed the professional liability climate in Louisiana.

Wisdom and experience - with the dedication, integrity, and courage to stand on principle - are qualities Donald brings to this position. Donald's consensus building has reached across medical specialities. We hope you will join us in endorsing and supporting Donald J. Palmisano as have the American College of Surgeons and the American Gastroenterological Association.

A Strong Voice for Medicine. A Clear Choice for Trustee.

Sincerely,

Lawrence L. Braud, M.D. 		    W. Juan Watkins, M.D.
President			    AMA Campaign Manager

The Pelican Brief - The candidate's position on the issues

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Of veterinarians and physicians

Because she had a red coat and was found in Lafayette, land of the Cajuns and near the home of Tabasco (Avery Island), we decided to name her " Tabasco." After recuperating for a week in the hospital and getting rid of the worms, fleas, and receiving her vaccinations, we took her home to meet Sacha and Chloe, two Dachshund sisters that we have had for six years. Tabasco appears overjoyed to have found a home. She is obviously very bright and doesn't back off from a fight, traits that apparently served her well on the street .

You probably wonder what any of this has to do with a political campaign. An overriding thought that kept recurring to me during this rescue odyssey was the observation that from my childhood I have never met a veterinarian I did not like. I always was able to speak directly to the veterinarian whenever my pet was ill and have him or her meet me in the veterinary office if necessary. The veterinarians I have encountered always have demonstrated visible compassion for my pets' plight and patience with my questions. Why is it physicians today do not enjoy the same fond remembrance universally? I believe the federal government has thwarted the conscientious efforts of physicians by creating bureaucratic obstructions that interfere in the physician-patient relationship. A stated goal in my campaign is to work to implement the policies of our AMA. I will maintain an especially vigilant eye to assure that those policies that decrease bureaucracy, permit choice in the selection of physician, and restore the right to privately contract between physician and patient will be assertively pursued. The accomplishment of this goal will remove bureaucratic intrusions in the doctor-patient relationship. The compassion of physicians will once again be visible and readily accessible. It is my dream that one day patients will likewise say they have never met a physician they did not like.

If you haven't reached this conclusion yet, I am happy to announce Tabasco is the official mascot of my campaign!

DJP

1 qt. okra (in 1/2-inch pieces)	2 med. onions, chopped	2 bay leaves
2 tbls. oil	1 bell pepper, chopped		2 Tbls. Worcestershire
2 qts. water	2 ribs celery, chopped		2 small boiled crabs
2-3 lbs. shrimp	2 cloves garlic, chopped	Salt to taste
2/3 cup oil	1/4 cup parsley, chopped	1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup flour	1 16 oz. can stewed tomatoes	1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Peel and devein shrimp. Set aside in refrigerator. Boil shrimp shells in 2 qts. of water for several hours to make a stock. Set aside.

In a heavy skillet, heat 2 tbls. oil and saute the okra until all the ripeness is gone, about 1/2 hour. Set aside.

In a large (6-8 qt.) heavy Dutch oven, make a dark brown roux with the oil and flour. Add onions, bell pepper, celery, garlic, and parsley and saute until tender. Add tomatoes and cook 15 minutes. Add sauteed okra, shrimp stock, crabs (broken into quarters), bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and cayenne. Bring to a slow boil and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add salt to taste. Add the peeled shrimp and continue cooking until the shrimp are done.

Serve over steamed rice. Best if cooked a day in advance and refrigerated overnight.

Other recipes are available from the Gumbo Shop via the Internet: http://www.accesscom.net/gumbo