An interesting article titled “Political Campaign Contributions of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Between 2013-2022 – A Decade of Data,” written by Jack A. Harris and et. al. (The Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Volume 80, Issue 9, Supplement, September 2022, Pages S43-S44). The article opens by discussing how oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the U.S. tend to donate to Republican-affiliated candidates and campaigns. This is no surpise to those who understand the inner workings of what certain political parties in the U.S. tend to support and is not ideal, see for example the articles Big Media Monopoly and How to Protect Yourself from Abusive Doctors.
In the article, the authors set to determine the magnitude and geographic differences in political contributions made by oral and maxillofacial surgeons between 2013 and 2022 with regards to determining the the total number and amount of political contributions, examining geographical differences in political contributions made by oral and maxillofacial surgeons and identifying organizations that receive the most political contributions from oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The authors used data from from the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) database from January 1, 2013, to April 30, 2022. The FEC data includes contributions made by individuals or orga-
nizations to political committees that totaled greater than or equal to $200 over a 2 year election cycle. Within the data, keywords such as oral and maxillofacial surgeon, OMFS, and OMS were used.
The authors found that 4,116 oral and maxillofacial surgeons made a total of 21,799 political contributions totaling nearly 5 million dollars ($4,951,415.80). Of the 21,799 donations, 9,595 (44%) were made toward Republicans, 6,058 (27.8%) were made towards Democrats, and 6,146 (28.2%) were made toward nonpartisan-affiliated committees. Non partisan donations were actually slightly higher in dollar amount than Republians, with $2,213,038.80 given to nonpartisanand $2,187,478.20 Republians. While Democrat donations came in at a paltry 550,898.80. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Texas donated the most money while those in Wyoming donated the least. By state, the highest political contributions to Republican causes was in Texas at $253,014, to Democrat causes was in New York at $95,084, and to nonpartisan causes was in California at $193,968. It is noted that most of the nonpartisan causes donations was actually given to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) Political Action Committee (PAC) ($2,157,973.81/$2,213,038.80 = 97.5%).
The authors state
“With high levels of political activism across both time and geography, the specialty has the potential to influence future health care policy and patient care in local, state, and federal elections.
As has been discussed on this site before, surgeon groups tend to be for placing a a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damage awards, see for example the post, New Legislation In California Proposed to Increase Medical Malpractice Damage Caps: Why It is Important if you Are Having Wisdom Teeth Extracted. Such damage caps can make it very difficult for a young patient who has wisdom teeth extracted and suffers a serious injury or complication.