Contact: Richard Gulla
(781) 434-7101
rgulla@mms.org
Waltham, Mass. - November 7, 2012 - The Massachusetts Medical Society provides the following statements from Richard Aghababian, M.D., president of the Society, in response to the apparent defeat of ballot question 2 (physician-assisted suicide) and the passage of ballot question 3 (medical marijuana).
Question 2: Physician-Assisted Suicide
"We are pleased that the majority of voters agree that a physician's role is to heal and comfort, not to aid in death. We reaffirm our commitment to provide physicians treating terminally ill patients all the resources necessary to enable them to contribute to the comfort and dignity of the patient and the patient's family."
Background: The Massachusetts Medical Society was opposed to Question 2, reflecting its current policy, adopted by the MMS House of Delegates at its 2011 Interim Meeting last December, when more than 75 percent of its delegates voted to reaffirm a policy opposing physician-assisted suicide first adopted in 1996. MMS current policy also states that the Society "supports patient dignity and the alleviation of pain and suffering at the end of life" and that the Society "will provide physicians treating terminally ill patients with the ethical, medical, social, and legal education, training, and resources to enable them to contribute to the comfort and dignity of the patient and the patient's family."
Question 3: Medical Marijuana
"Despite the vote, the Massachusetts Medical Society continues to assert that marijuana has not been proven to be medicine. It has not been subjected to the same rigorous testing and trials as other drugs approved by the Federal Drug Administration and used every day in practice by physicians.
"We have asked the Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana so that research and clinical trials can determine whether or not it has medical value. Until its effectiveness is proven clinically and accepted by the FDA, we urge physicians to refrain from recommending it to their patients.
"Above all, the prescribing of drugs by a physician should be based on clinical and medical evidence, not by popular vote. Further, we will closely monitor the impact of this law and will not hesitate to recommend changes if necessary."
Background: The Massachusetts Medical Society was opposed to Question 3, reflecting its current policy, adopted by the MMS House of Delegates at its 2012 Annual Meeting, when more than 82 percent of delegates voted to oppose legalizing medical marijuana "until such time that scientific studies demonstrate its safety and efficacy." In a letter dated October 2, 2012, the Medical Society has asked the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana "so that its potential medicinal use by humans may be further studied and potentially regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration."
The Massachusetts Medical Society, with more than 24,000 physicians and student members, is dedicated to educating and advocating for the patients and physicians of Massachusetts. The Society publishes the New England Journal of Medicine, a leading global medical journal and web site, and Journal Watch alerts and newsletters covering 13 specialties. The Society is also a leader in continuing medical education for health care professionals throughout Massachusetts, conducting a variety of medical education programs for physicians and health care professionals. Founded in 1781, MMS is the oldest continuously operating medical society in the country.
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