On July 3, 2025, DFA celebrated a major win for science, transparency, and patient care. A federal judgeruled in favorof Doctors for America and the City and County of San Francisco in our lawsuit challenging the unlawful removal of vital health information from government websites.
These removals created a dangerous gap in access to data critical for monitoring disease outbreaks, guiding clinical care, and supporting patient communication. The court's ruling requires the government to restore the webpages and datasets DFA and others rely on, and invalidates the federal policies that led to their removal.
As we enter July 2025, the landscape of American health care stands at a critical crossroads. In recent months, sweeping legislation, court rulings, and political rhetoric have made one thing painfully clear: access to basic, evidence-based medical care is under threat in ways we haven’t seen in decades.
Across the country, physicians are watching their patients face rising barriers to essential services—reproductive health, gender-affirming care, vaccinations, and even basic preventive screenings. Many of these decisions are being made not by medical experts, but by politicians with little regard for science or the lived experiences of the communities you serve.
In an environment saturated with misinformation and growing public confusion, physicians are uniquely positioned to cut through the noise. You can humanize policy debates, ground them in facts, and remind your fellow citizens what’s at stake: real lives, real families, and real futures.
The idea that advocacy is “extra” work misses the point: in this climate, advocacy is part of patient care. When a transgender teen loses access to hormone therapy due to a state ban, or when a woman in a rural community can no longer receive abortion care or contraception, the exam room alone is not enough. You must take your medical knowledge beyond clinic walls—into courtrooms, legislatures, and newsrooms.
Your patients deserve care that is safe, accessible, and rooted in science—not politics. And it’s your responsibility to fight for that care.
The idea that advocacy is “extra” work misses the point: in this climate, advocacy is part of patient care.
What You Can Do Right Now
You don’t have to be a policy expert to make a difference. Advocacy takes many forms:
Call or meet with your legislators. They need to hear from practicing clinicians.
Write an op-ed or letter to the editor. Your medical voice can shape public opinion.
Join or support advocacy groups like Doctors for America that offer training and action opportunities. Click here for our calendar of events.
Use your platform—big or small. Speak up in your hospital, your community, or on social media.
Every voice matters. Especially yours.
Seeking Member Feedback
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requires that hospitals with emergency departments provide health-saving and lifesaving abortion care to patients experiencing medical crises. Doctors for America is concerned that, contrary to EMTALA, access to emergency abortion care is nonetheless being restricted in some emergency departments. If this is something you have observed and you would be willing to speak confidentially to lawyers from legal advocacy nonprofits about your experiences, please complete this survey and someone may reach out. Your information will not be used publicly without your permission. If you have additional questions, please call DFA at (605) 201-8830.
Connect with like-minded advocates, access exclusive resources, and make your voice heard in shaping the future of health advocacy. Doctors for America is here to amplify your voice — in your hospital, in your community, and on Capitol Hill. For a limited time, residents can receive a special discounted membership rate — because we know you’re doing vital work on a tight budget.
As a trusted healthcare advocate, you have the power to shape how reproductive care is understood and supported. Our free on-demand training helps you speak with empathy, clarity and confidence about why comprehensive reproductive care - including abortion - matters.
Upcoming Training Dates
Part 1 (Live) - Tuesday, July 8, 8-10 pm ET - Register Here
Part 1 (Asynchronous Option) - Complete at your own pace - Register Here
With the nonstop chaos in politics and ongoing threats to public health, our members have been working around the clock — speaking out, organizing, and pushing for evidence-based policy in every corner of the country. This demands action, and we’re stepping up. Please consider supporting our work with a donation. Every contribution helps us to keep fighting for the health and rights of our patients.
