Marilyn Singleton, M.D., J.D., Medical Freedom Champion – R.I.P.

AnneMarie Schieber

5 months ago

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons released the following news about Marilyn Singleton shortly after 10 pm ET on June 18, 2024:

“Today we have some very difficult news to share.

Marilyn M. Singleton, MD, JD, a longtime member of the AAPS family, a true heroine of American medicine, and valiant defender of the patient-physician relationship, passed away last night. She was the model of what physicians should strive to be, both in and out of the exam room. Please extend your prayers to her husband Dan, who was frequently by her side helping throughout her many endeavors, as he grieves the sudden loss of his wife.

Dr. Singleton was a brilliant writer, engaging podcaster, generous friend, and trusted advisor. She inspired many with her remarkably unique talents as both an accomplished physician and a top-notch attorney, all from highest-ranking programs including residencies at UCSF (surgery) and Harvard (anesthesia). Marilyn set an exceptionally high standard of achievement that others can only strive toward.

Dr. Singleton served AAPS in numerous capacities over the last decade, including President and member of the board of directors. She was also a prolific author of AAPS op-eds, feature articles in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, and analysis of healthcare-related legislation.

Presciently, in a June 2019 President’s letter titled, “Can We Trust the Government with Our Medical Care?,” Dr. Singleton, quoting Daniel Webster, wrote:

“Good intentions will always be pleaded, for every assumption of power; but they cannot justify it…. It is hardly too strong to say, that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intention, real or pretended.” Given the government’s track record, even the most jaded bureaucrat cannot justify such betrayals of patients’ rights and the public trust.

In recent years, she conducted numerous interviews with physician leaders in her America Out Loud Pulse podcast. She also served as a visiting fellow of Do No Harm, in which capacity she was interviewed by Tucker Carlson and was published in the Washington Post explaining the dangers of “implicit bias” training in medicine.

She was also a current member of the board of the American Health Legal Foundation and volunteer behind the scenes in guiding, reviewing, and contributing her expertise to our legal initiatives.”

Editor’s note: Health Care News quoted Dr. Singleton frequently. Dr. Singleton was generous with her time and insights and was one of the most courageous voices for health care freedom. The writers, editors, and publishers of Health Care News are saddened by this news and we will miss her deeply.