On January 12, I wrote about a bill before the Virginia Legislature that would require physicians who recommended hysterectomies to refer their patients to a (partisan) website that is anti-hysterectomy prior to performing surgery.
I looked the issue up today and found that saner heads sort of prevailed. The bill was changed to read:
(Proposed by the House Committee on Health and Human Services
on January 23, 2024)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Orrock)
A BILL to direct the Department of Health Professions to review and make recommendations regarding informed consent requirements for hysterectomies and oophorectomies.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. That the Department of Health Professions shall, in consultation with the Board of Medicine, review the informed consent requirements surrounding a physician who recommends or performs a hysterectomy or an oophorectomy and determine if any regulations are needed regarding the educational information that is provided to a patient, as part of the informed consent process, in advance of undergoing such surgeries. The Department of Health Professions shall report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2024.
So, this is a recommendation for review of what is going on, and not a directive. For the moment, anyway.
The motion to review this went before the Virginia House on January 30, and it passed 51-49.
You know what surprises me? That something this inane goes before the legislature. Of course, physicians must abide by rules and regulations and every industry, even healthcare, needs oversight because people are, well, basically stupid and some are even evil, but honestly, did this have to go before the Virginia Legislature? And where's the similar vote to review what physicians tell men who want vasectomies or need to have their prostrate removed or whatever the case may be?
I guess reviewing it is alright, only I don't know who makes up the House and Senate Committees on Health and Human Services. I do know the guy who initially sponsored this legislation is on the HHS committee, so that's not good. If they are sane people (and the guy who filed this bill initially would not be counted among the sane), it shouldn't be a problem. But these days, we have so many inmates running the asylums, it is hard to tell who is going to determine what.
The government shouldn't be making medical decision/suggestions. Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI like the concept of this, but not as a legal procedure. It should be a part of the protocol for hospitals/physicians when this issue comes up. Maybe because I made a decision based on feelings and did not get neutral counseling to help me with a long term decision.
ReplyDelete"And where's the similar vote to review what physicians tell men who want vasectomies or need to have their prostrate removed or whatever the case may be?" EXACTLY the question every woman and every voter should be asking. Brava!
ReplyDelete