Presidential erudition

As goddess of childbirth, Lucina is privileged to be able to write a regular column in a prestigious medical journal, an honour she shares with her fellow Olympians, Minerva and Hyperion. However it is less common for your mortal leaders to be allowed the same privilege, even those in the most powerful positions. A notable exception is the outgoing President of the United States (figure 1), who wrote a perceptive analysis of effects of the Affordable Care Act which he introduced in 2010 (Obama B. JAMA 2016. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.9797). He notes a fall in numbers who are uninsured, and evidence of improving access to healthcare for the poorest American families. Quality of care appears to have improved as measured by rates of adverse healthcare events and readmissions. Costs of care within the federal public systems have fallen, but this may be partly due to the economic recession. One of four accompanying editorials is by former ADC Editor-in-Chief Howard Bauchner (doi:10.1001/jama.2016.9872). He commends Obama's reforms but points out …