Year: 2010
Resolution Number: 68
Action Taken: Disapproved
Status:
Author(s): Robert C. Ward III, DO
Sponsor: Robert C. Ward, III, DO
On behalf of: Berrien County Delegation
Committee: B (Legislation)
Resolved Section(s):
RESOLVED: That MSMS encourage legislation to remove patients certified as demented by two physicians from voter rolls. RATIONALE: This legislation was concerning to the Committee in that it takes the diagnosis of a medical condition which physicians are qualified to make to then make a determination about their capacity to vote which is not a medical conclusion. Additionally, the right to vote is constitutionally guaranteed and only limits this right to convicted felons. Therefore, the Committee believed that this issue ventured outside of the expertise of the medical profession and seeks a conclusion that, even if it were advisable, would assuredly be unconstitutional.
RESOLVED: That MSMS encourage legislation to remove patients certified as demented by two physicians from voter rolls. RATIONALE: This legislation was concerning to the Committee in that it takes the diagnosis of a medical condition which physicians are qualified to make to then make a determination about their capacity to vote which is not a medical conclusion. Additionally, the right to vote is constitutionally guaranteed and only limits this right to convicted felons. Therefore, the Committee believed that this issue ventured outside of the expertise of the medical profession and seeks a conclusion that, even if it were advisable, would assuredly be unconstitutional.
Fiscal Note: NULL
Resolution: View PDF for Voting Privilege Removal for Patients with Dementia