WALTHAM – Policies focusing on supporting migrant parents and children, preventing firearms violence, and protecting communities from the health risks of decommissioning nuclear power plants were among those newly adopted by the physician-members of the
Massachusetts Medical Society.
Physicians and medical students from across the state attended virtually the organization’s Interim Meeting last weekend and considered resolutions proposed by members to the House of Delegates, the Medical Society’s governing body. Accepted resolutions
are now organizational policies and will frame advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels.
New policies and objectives include:
Increase support for migrant parents and children
The MMS will encourage the state to collaborate with community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and key stakeholders in the health care system to coordinate efforts to address the medical and mental health needs of migrant families, pregnant people,
children, and youth and support the efforts of housing advocates to improve access to safe and stable housing for migrants.
Further, the Medical Society will work with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), other nongovernment organizations, municipalities, and physicians across the Commonwealth
to facilitate immediate enrollment of migrant children into school systems and encourage local and state programs to offer individual and group medical visits for incoming migrant youth to expedite their medical care and to document or update their
immunizations. The MMS will support the efforts of housing advocates to improve access to safe and stable housing for migrants.
Combatting the public health crisis of gun violence
That the MMS will advocate for and strongly support legislation, regulation, and reform that seeks to address the public health crisis posed by gun violence.
Protecting local communities from the health risks of decommissioning nuclear power plants
The MMS will advocate to Massachusetts legislators and/or regulatory entities to fund scientific studies to adequately evaluate the health effects of decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station on workers, residents, and the environment that might
include evaluation of radioactive releases, collection of biometric data, and placement of appropriate radiation monitors prior to proceeding. The MMS will encourage the AMA to advocate for strict limitations of aerosol, soil, and/or water radionuclide
releases in the decommissioning of US nuclear power plants in order to protect health, particularly that of local vulnerable populations.
Support the inclusion of information about lung cancer screening on cigarette packaging
The MMS will work with the American Medical Association (AMA) to advocate for information about lung cancer screening to be included within cigarette packages.
The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) is the statewide professional association for physicians and medical students, supporting 25,000 members. We are dedicated to educating and advocating for the physicians of Massachusetts and patients locally and nationally. A leadership voice in health care, the MMS contributes physician and patient perspectives to influence health-related legislation at the state and federal levels, works in support of public health, provides expert advice on physician practice management, and addresses issues of physician well-being. Under the auspices of the NEJM Group, the MMS extends our mission globally by advancing medical knowledge from research to patient care through the New England Journal of Medicine, NEJM Catalyst, and the NEJM Journal Watch family of specialty publications, and through our education products for health care professionals: NEJM Knowledge+, NEJM Resident 360, and our accredited and comprehensive continuing medical education programs.
