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PRESIDENT’S PAGE
provides a standardized set of orders which are voluntary and transferable from facility to facility. The goal is to abide by and respect patients’ wishes regarding scope of treatment, whether full treatment efforts or comfort
care only. With the passage of this
bill, Delaware would have the same standards as more than 40 other states, including our neighbors, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. Delaware is projected to be the 9th “oldest” state by 2030 and while end of life issues do not only affect the elderly, having strong tools for the discussion regarding the care at the end of life will continue to be important in the coming decade with a larger aging population.
In yet another previous issue of
the Delaware Medical Journal, I mentioned the national movement
to pass dense breast legislation. Starting in Connecticut, more than
20 states have passed legislation when their mammogram has the category of “dense breasts.” The American College of Radiology has “types” of dense breasts, but does
not have a consensus guideline for further imaging or treatment of dense breasts on mammography. I used
this type of legislation as an example of the increasing intrusive nature
of government into actual clinical practice. In Delaware, a bill was and detailed language regarding the version in this year’s legislature which
These examples of the broad range of health care legislative issues demonstrate the need for all physicians to support and remain engaged in the advocacy process.”
incorporates the advocacy work of
the Medical Society and would only and discretion at the hands of the facility example of how physician engagement and advocacy can help shape legislation so physicians are the ultimate determinants of care for the patient.
There are at least a half dozen other pieces of legislation that have been introduced which I have not touched on, and I am sure by the time this issue is printed, probably another
half dozen will be introduced. Some
of the proposed legislation concerns expanding the scope of practice for other health care professionals, such as midwives, optometrists, and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). However, I hope that these examples of the broad range of health care legislative issues demonstrate the need
for all physicians to support and remain engaged in the advocacy process. But I — unless they want to!
Nancy Fan, M.D.
President, Medical Society of Delaware
170
Del Med J
| June 2015
| Vol. 87
| No. 6
