Massachusetts Medical Society adopts resolutions on significant public health and health policy issues

Physicians of the Mass. Medical Society adopt resolutions on public health and policy issues at the 2003 Interim Meeting of the organization's House of Delegates.

Framingham, Mass (PRWEB) November 10, 2003 -- Physicians of the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) today adopted several resolutions on significant public health and health policy issues at its 2003 Interim Meeting of its House of Delegates held at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel.

The Interim Meeting of the Society brings together hundreds of Massachusetts physicians from across the state to examine and consider specific resolutions brought forth by members for consideration by the Societys House of Delegates, its governing body. The two-day meeting concluded today [Saturday, Nov. 8].

Among some 35 administrative and policy issues addressed by delegates at the meeting were the subjects of pharmaceutical advertising, tobacco sales to minors, physician interaction with pharmaceutical and medical device industry representatives, and the health consequences of violent and sexually-oriented television programming.

Among the topics and resolutions adopted:
·Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising MMS physicians of the Massachusetts Medical Society agreed to work with the American Medical Association, and appropriate agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration to require that direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription medications include at least one FDA-approved indication for the prescribed medication. While current Medical Society policy is opposed to all such DTC advertising of prescription medications, physicians are becoming alarmed that consumers are becoming more exposed to certain prescription medications without adequate knowledge of the drug, its intended uses, and possible side effects.

·Physician Interaction with Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industries The Medical Society agreed to develop a curriculum for medical students and health care professionals to emphasize the current ethical guidelines associated with gifts to physicians and to remind all physicians to maintain a heightened awareness of the implied and perceived obligations regarding all interactions with the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. In approving this measure, the Society expressed a desire to educate physicians and medical students about the ethics associated with gifts to physicians.

·Tobacco Abuse Among Youth The Medical Society resolved to advocate that the State Legislature increase the fines and penalties for the sale of tobacco products for minors to improve compliance with existing laws. The Medical Society has long advocated for tobacco control and strongly supports the recent statewide ban on tobacco use.

·Violent and Sexually-Explicit Television Programming MMS physicians voted to engage in efforts to inform the public of the potentially harmful health consequences from the prevalence of television programs concentrated on violence and pornography. While decrying societys desensitization to media violence, physicians believed the profession has an obligation to speak out in opposition to violent programming, while not condoning censorship.

·Public Access Defibrillation Physicians urged the Medical Society to work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, communities and the American Heart Association in spreading information on public access defibrillation and establishing Heart Safe" communities. Automatic external defibrillators are valuable, cost-effective, and easy-to-use tools to increase the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims.

·Medical Home Concept for Children with Special Health Care Needs The Medical Society supports the concept of a medical home" for children with special health care needs that is accessible, comprehensive, continuous, and family-centered. This is a philosophy of care endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The Massachusetts Medical Society, with 18,000 physicians and student members, is dedicated to educating and advocating for the physicians and patients of Massachusetts. Founded in 1781, the MMS is the oldest continuously operating medical society in the country. The Society owns and publishes The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal Watch family of professional newsletters, AIDS Clinical Care, and produces HealthNews, a consumer health publication. For additional information, visit www.massmed.org.

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