According to the CMA Twitter feed, in roughly a three hour period today delegates at the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) read all supporting literature, debated and voted on 18 motions. I am guessing there were more than these 18 and these were just the ones which made the Twitter feed.
That said, using 18 motions as the figure, that is roughly 10 minutes a motion. Again this is to read the motion, read the supporting literature, read the recommendations, debate, ask questions, arrive at an informed decision and then vote.
How is this possible?
Heck, even when I went to University I spent more time writing meaningless Arts based research papers than the time it took for the CMA to vote on 18 pressing health matters facing our nation. And I was totally disinterested in what I was doing!
Interesting to note – all the motions were passed but one: “Delegates vote against doing a review of infant male circumcision as a public health measure.”
Baaaaaa.
The Motions:
CMA will work with others to develop policy on national strategy for long-term retention, retrieval and disposal of medical records.
CMA delegates call on fed govt to restore the mandatory long form census.
CMA General Council gives strong endorsement to CMA’s Health Care Transformation document and wants govts to act on it now.
CMA delegates concerned that Health Canada is allowing a backlog of 7,000 natural health products to be sold without being reviewed.
Delegates want CMA to work with CMAJ to reverse its decision to no longer publish French-language abstracts and editorials.
CMA delegates urge feds to keep Chalk River reactor open as long as needed beyond 2016 to supply medical isotopes.
CMA delegates calls for sustainable CMAJ business plan for 2012 that will not use membership dues.
Foods fortified with ‘natural health’ ingredients should be regulated as foods and not natural health products.
CMA calls on govts and RHAs to ensure MDs, through med assns are included in developing medical staff bylaws and apptment policies.
CMA delegates vocally oppose bylaws, codes of conduct or policies that muzzle right of MDs to speak out or advocate for patients.
Delegates want CMA to explore launching a legal challenge to application of GST and HST to medical services.
CMA votes to support research to expand use of telemedicine.
CMA delegates vote for ban on Mixed Martial Arts prize fighting matches in Canada.
CMA calls on feds to reconsider decision not to fund termination of pregnancy services in developing countries.
CMA delegates support a study of the impact of the HST and GST on medical practices and patient care.
CMA wants to ensure new Infoway funding is aligned with e-health strategies at provincial/territorial level.
CMA delegates call on fed govt to amend Income Tax Act to allow prof assns to sponsor and manage RRSPs for the self-employed.
Delegates vote against doing a review of infant male circumcision as a public health measure.
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