Fwd: Re: AMA Resolution and other medical associations

[Erica Frank, MD, MPH]

We have a lot going fwd at the AMA -- leaving for the AMA mtg tomorrow,
as the author of one of the "greening the AMA" resolutions. Maybe I
could report some time.

Erica

Erica Frank, MD, MPH

=Professor and Canada Research Chair, University of British Columbia
Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, and Department of Family Practice
=Founder and Executive Director, Health Sciences Online
=Founder and Principal Investigator, Healthy Doc = Healthy Patient
=President, Physicians for Social Responsibility
=Research Director, Annenberg Physician Training Program in Addiction Medicine
=Professor and Senior Advisor, Preventive Medicine Residency Program
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory Univ. School of Medicine
=erica...@ubc.ca or efr...@emory.edu

Quoting macki...@msn.com:

>
> Hello! I know that the American Public Health Association has taken a
> stance against climate change, and I saw that American Medical
> Association is developing something but have not had an update. Since
> I am not a member, I wonder whether anyone knows what is going on with
> the AMA. Also, I wonder whether other medical organizations are
> putting forward resolutions. I am proposing this to my Washington
> State Psychiatry Association, and wonder about the national group
> also.
>
> >
>
>

----- End forwarded message -----

[Liza Goldman Huertas]

Hi everyone,

I think resolutions are a great strategy to educate and mobilize the
medical community on climate change...

I don't know where any of the medical associations are on this. I
wrote a draft resolution for AMSA that a few of us have a draft of if
useful for language. Draft language no longer goes quite far enough,
considering new ideas of safety at 350 ppb CO2 vs 80% reduction by 2050.

Personally very interested in bringing this to family medicine
organizations (starting residency in family med in a little over a
week).

Let's keep each other posted!

Best wishes,

Liza

[Jay, Stephen J]

June 12, 2008

Hi Liza,

You might be interested in our recent Public Health Week conference in Indiana (Mid America Public Health Training Center (MAPHTC) regarding climate change. An annotated bib of existing literature on public health and climate change may be found here.
http://www.maphtc.iupui.edu/ClimateChange/index.html
All the best,
Steve Jay

Stephen J. Jay M.D.
Professor of Medicine and Public Health
Indiana University School of Medicine
Department of Public Health
714 N. Senate Ave. EF250
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3297
Phone 317 274 3126
Fax 317 274 3443

[Ira Shorr]

Thanks Liza-

I agree that health professional resolutions are a great organizing
tool for GW work----and for effforts opposing new coal plants (I have
copied below a resolution passed by the Dallas medical Society that
connects coal and GW).

Can you send around the draft resolution you have done.

What is the ability of AMSA and SPSR activists to promote these kind of
resolutions to local health groups?

Ira

-----Original Message-----
From: Medical...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:Medical...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Liza Goldman
Huertas
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 8:09 PM
To: Medical...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: AMA Resolution and other medical associations

[Ira Shorr]

 Sorry--forgot to send the Dallas resolution--below:

Subject:                       Coal Power Plant and Diesel Emissions in Texas

 

Introduced by:            Dallas County Medical Society (Robert Haley, MD)

 

Whereas, to protect the health of Texans and reduce climate change, TMA supports measures to reduce mercury, particulate, and ozone pollution; has urged state action toward a responsible energy plan; and has encouraged its physician members to adopt efficient energy usage practices.

Whereas, public pressure led to cancellation of 8 of 19 highly polluting coal-fired power plants on a fast track for approval, but18 existing coal plants continue operating with antiquated, modestly effective pollution control technology, and 6 new coal plants are under construction or approved, including one monstrous plant that will spew out more particulates, mercury, and almost as much acid rain-producing pollution as the 5 other newly permitted coal plants combined. 

Whereas, power plants produce 40% of air pollution in Texas, and state-approved plans to retrofit existing coal plants with pollution-control technology will use cheap, ineffective alternatives. 

Whereas, another major source of particulate pollution comes from the large number of diesel powered trucks, buses, trains and construction equipment, which pose a cancer risk higher than that of all other air toxics, particularly near highways, railroad tracks and construction sites.

Whereas, diesel engines produced after 2006 are required to operate more cleanly, but all earlier diesels, which operate for decades, produce large volumes of sulfur, particulates and heavy metals. 

Whereas, a cleanup program to retrofit diesel engines with ozone-reducing devices has been successful in Texas, but the program does not target the more dangerous particulate emissions. 

Whereas, air pollution from coal-fired power plants and diesel engines significantly increases hospitalizations and deaths from heart attacks, asthma, and chronic lung disease.

Whereas, recent evidence suggests that particulate pollution absorbed through the lungs may stunt the growth of lung capacity in children, increasing their vulnerability to lung disease later in life, and may reach the brain causing reduced cognitive ability in infants and children.

Whereas, continued increases in emissions will push Texas cities above 2010 federal pollution standards, resulting in loss of federal highway construction funds and economic harm to businesses.

Whereas, likely future carbon taxes and litigation to pay for past environmental damage will turn currently profitable coal-fired power plants into massive liabilities to consumers; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that TMA urges our state government leaders and legislators to take action to reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants and diesel engines.  Steps might include:

·        Requiring the immediate installation or retrofitting of technology highly efficient in reducing all forms of air pollution, including ozone-causing pollutants, particulates, carbon dioxide and mercury, on all existing and future coal-fired power plants. 

·        Ending state subsidies for polluting coal-fired power plants and levying a tax on coal, equivalent to that on natural gas, sufficient to pay future federal levies on pollution damage.

·        Placing a moratorium on approval of old technology coal-fired power plants.

·        Requiring an addition to the state diesel retrofit program to include particulate controls.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Medical...@googlegroups.com [mailto:Medical...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Liza Goldman Huertas
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 8:09 PM
To: Medical...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: AMA Resolution and other medical associations