Pubdate: Sat, 16 Jun 2001
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Section: Domestic News
Copyright: 2001 Associated Press
  Author: Lindsey Tanner, AP Medical Writer
June 16, 2001, Saturday, BC cycle

  'COMPASSIONATE USE' OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON AGENDA AT AMA ANNUAL MEETING

CHICAGO - One month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the medical 
use of marijuana, the American Medical Association is being urged to 
endorse the illegal drug as last-resort pain relief for seriously ill patients.

At its policy-setting annual meeting starting here Sunday, the AMA also is 
being asked to endorse a moratorium on executions nationwide, although it 
rejected a similar proposal last year. The measures are among more than 250 
reports, resolutions and proposals conference delegates are asking the 
nation's largest group of doctors to approve.

Whether the historically cautious group will take a more activist role at 
its five-day meeting remains to be seen as the group struggles for 
effectiveness amid a worrisome slide in membership. The challenge is to 
appeal to physicians with divergent political views while at the same time 
tackling issues relevant to patients.

"They don't want to take positions that they're concerned the public would 
consider not necessarily appropriate for physicians to take," said Dr. 
Jimmy Hara, a sometimes AMA member and co-president of the Los Angeles 
chapter of the activist group Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Desperately seeking to attract new members, the AMA is more likely than 
ever to stick to middle ground, Hara said.

The marijuana question is an example. The Supreme Court's May 14 ruling 
that it's illegal to sell or possess marijuana for medical use appears to 
be having little effect in the eight states with medical marijuana laws, 
and some have even moved to expand marijuana laws despite the ruling.

The AMA's current policy opposes use of medical marijuana but says there 
should be more research on the issue. But a report by an AMA council says 
the group should support the "compassionate use" of marijuana while also 
urging further research.

Like all proposals at the meeting, the marijuana report could be altered or 
withdrawn before being sent to the House of Delegates for a vote on whether 
to make it policy during the meeting's final three days.

The AMA enters this year's meeting leaner, in better fiscal health, and - 
its leaders maintain - better equipped to tackle ongoing challenges such as 
membership and managed care reform.

In its year 2000 financial report, the AMA reported earning $2.7 million on 
operations, compared with a $15 million loss in 1999. The turnaround was 
achieved by reducing or eliminating programs and cutting staff by 14 
percent, or 188 jobs.

But the AMA lost more than 3,000 members and $4.2 million in revenue from 
membership dues last year, continuing a slide that began several years ago. 
That puts membership at 290,357, or only about one-third of the nation's 
800,000-plus doctors, residents and medical students.

Ten years ago, the AMA had nearly 300,000 members, or about 40 percent of 
the nation's doctors.

"Membership is the most crucial area for the AMA," the financial report 
said, acknowledging that the group's effectiveness and success depends on 
rebuilding its ranks.

The AMA formed an advisory committee after last year's annual meeting to 
address the problem, and gained insight into possible remedies from a 
doctors' survey the committee conducted at the AMA's winter meeting in Orlando.

Comments included complaints about high dues - ranging from $420 annually 
for regular members to $20 for medical students. But one respondent told 
the group the "biggest issue in AMA membership deterioration is public 
perception that AMA has become a trade union interested primarily in MD 
income. Many physicians would return to membership if widespread 
perceptions become that AMA is really 'physicians dedicated to the health 
of America."'

Alternative dues packages for residents and fellows and outreach programs 
targeting young doctors, residents and even pre-med students are among 
solutions the AMA has implemented or is considering, the committee said in 
a report to be presented at the meeting.

Other proposals at the meeting include:

- -urging the AMA to officially recommend a low-salt diet to all Americans, 
even those without high blood pressure, "as an effective means of 
preventing the development of hypertension."

- -calling for a ban on prescription drug ads to the public to decrease drug 
costs and improve doctor-patient relationships.

- -calling for the AMA to lobby for mandatory alcoholism screening for all 
drunken-driving offenders.

The health of the AMA-sponsored union, Physicians for Responsible 
Negotiation, also will be discussed in light of a recent Supreme Court 
decision preventing private-hospital doctors from organizing if they have 
supervisory duties.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth