ROCHESTER, September 16, 2009 - During his inaugural address at the MMA’s 156th Annual Meeting Thursday, the MMA’s new president, Benjamin Whitten, M.D., explained that he got involved in organized medicine in 1995 when lawmakers were considering criminal penalties for physicians whose patients suffered bad medical outcomes that might have been prevented.

Whitten, an internist who practices at Abbott Northwestern General Medicine Associates, recalled the day he received notification of a proposal to amend the Vulnerable Adults Act so that it included felony-level penalties for physicians who were treating vulnerable adults who suffered bad outcomes that could or might have been prevented.

He started making phone calls and visits to lawmakers, sharing his concerns and registering his opposition to the idea. But his solo efforts only took him so far. “Neither the governor nor the lieutenant governor nor anyone from their offices would even talk with me or acknowledge my concerns. It was only when the MMA threw their full weight against the bill that the criminal provisions were stripped out,” Whitten said.

That lesson about the value of the MMA and organized medicine prompted Whitten to stay involved. Today, he chairs the MMA Committee on Legislation and frequently testifies at the Capitol on issues that affect the practice of medicine and patient safety.

Whitten told the audience that Minnesota’s physicians have a lot to be proud of. “We consistently rank at the very top of the nation,” in terms of quality and cost he said. However, he still sees room for improvement.

He would like to see the culture of medicine change from one of “shame and blame” to one that acknowledges that errors occur and is willing to help physicians overcome shortcomings.

Whitten also would like to see the health care system do more to empower patients by making the content of their medical records available to them. “Think of the communication errors that could be avoided by lifting some of the obscurity and mystique and simply giving patients access to their own data.”

He closed his speech by saying that Minnesota has many outstanding institutions that have helped physicians provide the highest standards of care in the country, and he considers the MMA an institution that is part of that proud tradition.

Benjamin Whitten at a Glance
Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School 1979
Residency: Abbott Northwestern Hospital, 1980-1985, interrupted by living and training in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1983.
MMA involvement: Whitten is currently an alternate delegate to the AMA House of Delegates. He has served
on the MMA Board of Trustees and as chair of the Uniform Credentialing Task Force. He also has chaired the Committee on Medical Ethics and Legal Affairs and is currently chair of the Committee on Legislation. He also is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, and Hennepin Medical Society.