By Tom Flanagan, Media Relations Manager
The Massachusetts Medical Society’s Annual Meeting brings together members and physician leaders from across the Commonwealth and from a range of practice environments and career levels, with a goal of learning, connecting, and creating policy that improves the lives of patients and peers.
In May, the Society’s House of Delegates (HOD), comprised of member physicians and medical students, considered, discussed, and debated dozens of resolutions brought forth by members. The resolutions accepted by the HOD became organizational policy.
Among the new policies adopted is the assertion that health care is a basic human right. The new policy states, “The Massachusetts Medical Society asserts that enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, in all its dimensions, including health care, is a basic human right. The provision of health care services, as well as optimizing the social determinants of health, is an ethical obligation of a civilized society.”
MMS President Maryanne Bombaugh, MD, MSc, MBA, FACOG, the author of the resolution and one of the resolution’s cosponsors, emphasized the importance of the decision in her inauguration speech telling the crowd of MMS members, family, friends, colleagues, and special guests, “This is a health policy statement that includes the social determinants of health, and it can help direct our advocacy — advocacy for improving the public’s health and the public good that is the core of our Medical Society’s mission and is chiseled in stone on our building wall in Waltham.” The resolution-turned-policy was co-sponsored by the MMS officers (Drs. Alain Chaoui, Maryanne Bombaugh, and David Rosman) and the BOT.
Here are some other highlights of the policies passed:
Ending Non-medical Vaccine Exemptions for School Entrance
The Massachusetts Medical Society opposes non-medical vaccine exemptions for school attendance and will advocate for legislation and regulation that end them in Massachusetts. As a parent myself, I respect the autonomy to make decisions for our own children,” said Dr. Bombaugh. “But there are places where non-vaccination could threaten the health of one’s child or the community.”
Pediatrician Eli Freiman, MD, who co-sponsored the resolution with radiologist Samantha Harrington, MD, underlined the timeliness of the proposal: “With vaccine-preventable illness making a comeback across the United States, it’s time that physicians take action to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable populations,” he said. “Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever created and physicians need to continue to publicize their success and promote recommended use across the Commonwealth and country.” He continued, “As a pediatrician and a father, I want to make sure we are doing everything we can to protect our most vulnerable children, elders, and anyone else at risk for vaccine-preventable illness.”
Modern Abortion Laws and Access
The Massachusetts Medical Society will advocate for legislation and policies that:
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Require that the only criteria needed to be met to give consent to abortion are pregnancy and medical-decision-making capacity
- Extend existing safety-net health coverage for pregnancy-related care to abortion
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Update pregnancy and abortion-related medical terminology used in legal codes to reflect the best scientific evidence and knowledge
Flavored Tobacco
The Medical Society will advocate to the state legislature and regulators to ban the sale or distribution of any flavored tobacco products — whether combustible cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery devices (e-cigarettes.) The ban would include menthol and mint flavors. Additionally, the MMS will advocate for an FDA ban on all flavored e-cigarettes, as well as menthol- and mint-flavored combustible cigarettes. The Society will request that the American Medical Association do the same.
The resolution was sponsored by Dr. Allen, a pediatrician, who was compelled to take action in the face of an alarming increase in vaping among children. “As a longtime advocate in youth smoking cessation efforts, I have been appalled at the dramatic uptick in youth use of the newer vaping devices, especially JUUL,” Dr. Allen said. “One of the ways that the tobacco industry attracts young people to its products is through flavoring, and I have learned that menthol and mint flavoring in particular are preferentially marketed to youth and minority communities, with almost half of youth smokers using menthol products. To me, nicotine addiction, and the specific role of flavoring in perpetuating it, is a public health crisis and the MMS is ideally suited to address this issue.”
Excise Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
The MMS will advocate for legislation that establishes state and local excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and encourages the application of the resulting revenues toward programs that support food security and improve access to healthy foods.
Promoting Physical Activity
Finally, in light of the Medical Society’s recognition of the benefits of daily physical activity and the risks of sedentary behavior, delegates supported the recommendations of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for adults and children. The guidelines advise regular moderate or vigorous physical activity and strengthening exercises for everyone, including people with disabilities or chronic conditions, as their age, abilities, and conditions allow. Furthermore, the MMS will advocate for policies and programs that provide opportunities for safe physical activity for children and adults, including for older adults and those with disabilities or socio-economic barriers.
“Physical activity is crucial to optimize overall health and decrease the likelihood of chronic disease and it reduces morbidity and mortality for all,” said Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, an obesity specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and the resolution’s sponsor. “Unfortunately, many are unaware of the current guidelines that have been put forth by the Department of Health and Human Services for some groups here in the United States. As such, people are unaware of the volume and intensity of physical activity that is needed to have significant benefits.”
For a complete listing of all current Massachusetts Medical Society policies, search “policy compendium” at massmed.org.
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