Year: 2010
Resolution Number: 19
Action Taken: Disapproved
Status:
Author(s): Ponon Dileep Kumar, MD
Sponsor: Ponon Dileep Kumar, MD
On behalf of: St. Clair County Delegation
Committee: B (Legislation)
Resolved Section(s):
RESOLVED: That MSMS work with the Michigan legislature to enact a state law providing protection to health care professionals working in the emergency areas in the state; and be it furtherRESOLVED: That the Michigan Delegation to the AMA ask the AMA to push for federal legislation to criminalize assaults on health care workers in the line of duty with stiffer penalties.RATIONALE: While the members of the Committee are aware that violence in the emergency room is not uncommon, it did not conclude that this resolution would meaningfully address the problem. It was the sense of the Committee that it is a lack of reporting by health care professionals as opposed to some deficiency within state or federal law. Current law already addresses assault in any setting, therefore no special consideration needs to be given specifically to the emergency room. Even if additional penalties were enacted, it was not clear if that would cause workers in that setting to be any more likely to report these situations to the authorities.
RESOLVED: That MSMS work with the Michigan legislature to enact a state law providing protection to health care professionals working in the emergency areas in the state; and be it furtherRESOLVED: That the Michigan Delegation to the AMA ask the AMA to push for federal legislation to criminalize assaults on health care workers in the line of duty with stiffer penalties.RATIONALE: While the members of the Committee are aware that violence in the emergency room is not uncommon, it did not conclude that this resolution would meaningfully address the problem. It was the sense of the Committee that it is a lack of reporting by health care professionals as opposed to some deficiency within state or federal law. Current law already addresses assault in any setting, therefore no special consideration needs to be given specifically to the emergency room. Even if additional penalties were enacted, it was not clear if that would cause workers in that setting to be any more likely to report these situations to the authorities.
Fiscal Note: NULL
Resolution: View PDF for Violence in the Emergency Room