I’m all for free speech and I’m very hostile to censorship. The response to ugly speech is not censorship, but is rebuttal speech. Of course, there’s a lot of speech out there that should never be uttered. Indecent and rude speech is constitutionally protected, but is usually a poor choice. We have the right to make speech that is wrong. Does First Amendment Apply to Physicians? I relish my free speech in the office with patients. I am interested in their interests and occupations and sometimes even find time to discuss their medical concerns. I am cautious about having a political discussion with them, but patients often want my thoughts and advice on various aspects of medical politics, and I am willing to share my views with them. I don’t think they fear that politics or any other issue under discussion will affect their care. It won’t. A Federal Appeal Court recently decided in a Florida case that physicians could be sanctioned if they asked patients if the
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