What do you do when a physician exhibits behavior outside of the norm? Consider this scenario:

A hospital had a skilled internist who had been reported for unprofessional, rude, or otherwise discourteous behavior six times in the last three months. The physician has been a member of the hospital's medical staff for seven years and has never before exhibited problematic behavior. The hospital's medical executive committee (MEC) was reluctant to revoke the physician's clinical privileges.

In October 2021, the AMA and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Center for Health Justice released Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Language, Narrative and Concepts to help healthcare professionals reflect on the language they use and promote a better understanding of health inequities. Backlash to the guide was almost immediate as publications from across the political spectrum pushed back on the guidance.