AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: The attached video is about state officials discussing the coronavirus in Texas.
During Thursday's installment of the Dell Medical Grand Rounds, the American Medical Association (AMA) president discussed some of the latest health trends, including the coronavirus and opioid crisis.
The Grand Rounds is a series that features world-renowned speakers who teach about health care.
Dr. Patrice Harris, who is the first African American woman to hold the AMA presidential position, also talked about the future of medicine and AMA's priorities for 2020.
"We are very excited in that we have created the Center for Health Equity at the AMA," said Harris. "We want to make sure that health equity is embedded in the DNA of AMA."
While addressing coronavirus concerns, Harris said the AMA has created a website to provide physicians with up-to-date information from the Centers for Disease Control and other leaders in the health community.
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"One of the things I talked about in my address tot he AMA house of delegates in November was trust," said Harris. "We live in a time of misinformation, disinformation and a lack of trust in institutions. And let's be candid, sometimes that is warranted. Patients still want to hear from their physicians because they know that we are following the science and evidence."
Regarding the opioid crisis, Harris said the doctors who abdicated their legal and professional duties, pill mills, should go to jail. She also said a separate conversation needs to be had regarding the doctors who were trying to do the best they can for their patient's needs.
"Of course physicians had a role to play, and I think we've decreased the number of opioids prescribed and improved our education, but we have to appreciate the opioid epidemic and any major public health problem in context," said Harris. "We wanted to make sure that we were saying we had a role to play and we want to help solve this problem."
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