EXCEL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 21, 2003

 

Present- Ginny Fry, Diana Peirce, Judy Murphy, Cindy Bruzzese, John Campbell, Paul Harrington, Madeleine Mongan, Anne Coates, Drs. Denise Niemira, Bob Orr, Carolyn Taylor- Olson and Marilyn Hart


MINUTES-

The September 25th, 2002 minutes were unanimously approved


MEDICAL MARIJUANA-

Madeleine reported that the bill, S.76, which relates to the medicinal use of marijuana, had been passed by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and was being reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Update: The Senate Judiciary Committee passed an amended S.76 on March 13th. To view the text of S.76, as originally introduced, go to- http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/bills/intro/S-076.HTM
To view the amended bill- http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2004/journal/SJ030313.htm
The bill is currently under the review of the House Health and Welfare Committee.)

Madeleine welcomed anyone to help her work on the bill. Diana agreed to do so. Madeleine went on to discuss some of the finer details of the bill. Marilyn asked whether or not the VMS had taken a position on the bill. Madeleine made it clear that the VMS was committed to doing more research on the subject. She went on to say that although VMS does not support the bill, it does support physicians having the right to discuss this particular issue with their patients. Diana asked that the topic be brought up again during the next meeting.


JUNE CONFERENCE-

Ginny noted that it was traditional to have the conference fall on one day in June at the Lake Morey Resort. However, this year’s conference will occur over a two day period. After Ginny asked the committee members what kind of speaker they wanted for the conference, discussion ensued on potential speakers. Possible speakers mentioned included (I apologize for any misspellings):

Martha Twottle, chair of the Palliative Care Conference Service at NMH
Betty Farrell, nurse from California
Andrew Billings
Susan Walke

Action-
An agenda for the conference will be solidified during the next ExCEL meeting.


GRANTS-

Denise emphasized the importance of finding a grant that will finance end of life issues in Vermont. She went on to say that it made sense to also investigate what particular issues various communities across the state had regarding end of life issues. She suggested that someone contact representatives from each hospital on their perspectives of the end of life issues affecting their patient population.

Action-

Denise will find out the kind of projects RallyingPoints is willing to fund and then will contact Anne/Madeleine to follow up on the grant application.


PHYSICAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE-

Diana suggested that the committee review the Death with Dignity (DWD) bill, S.112 and potentially rewrite VMS’s position on physician-assisted suicide. Paul reported that the bill was being headed up by a group of retired physicians and that many Chittenden County legislators supported it. He went on to say that the VMS’s Council was meeting on March 6th and that he expected to hear two positions discussed in reference to the bill.
Carolyn thought that the majority of Council members would favor NOT taking a position on the issue/legislation.

Paul then mentioned that Steve Kiernan, a reporter from the Burlington Free Press, had interviewed him recently about the DWD legislation being raised at the State House and Paul had referred Steve to the VMS's current policy. Diana made it clear that this issue should NOT be legislated and reported that stance to Kiernan herself.

Bob stated that it was important for the VMS to take a stand on PAS. Both Maine and Hawaii have adopted the AMA’s policy on PAS, which is in opposition. Marilyn pointed out that the difference between Hospice’s policy and the AMA’s policy is that Hospice does not choose a side whereas the AMA is vehemently against PAS.

To view the edits made by the ExCEL Committee on the VMS’s PAS policy, go to: www.vtmd.org


OTHER BUSINESS-

The second annual Green Mountain End of Life Conference will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Burlington from May 28th to May 30th.

For more information about the conference, please contact UVM’s Continuing Medical Education Office at (802) 656-2292 or uvmcme@uvm.edu


NEXT MEETING-

Thursday, March 27th, 2003 at the Vermont Medical Society

 

Email: mail@vpqhc.org
Phone: 802.229.2152
Fax: 802.229.5098

Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care, Inc.
132 Main Street, P.O. Box 1356, Montpelier, VT 05601