The medical profession is treated by politicians as a negligible quantity, but this is partly because it does not know, and partly because it does not care to use, its power. What doctors could do if they chose to use the legitimate influence which they have, is shown by an incident in a recent electoral campaign in America. The defeat of Governor Charles S. Thomas, of Colorado, for a seat in the United States Senate was, according to the Maryland Medical Journal, due to the influence of the medical profession, who determined to punish him for an insulting veto message. The doctors all over the State worked for democratic and fusion candidates who would pledge themselves to oppose Governor Thomas. The Governor was perfectly sure of his nomination until the Legislature assembled, when he found that he lacked four votes. The bitterness of his defeat was doubtless increased by the fact that it was due to the action of the despised doctors. (BMJ 1901;i:1038)
. 2001 Jul 21;323(7305):141.