Delegates to Vote on Policies Educating Families About Cyberbullying Among Other Issues that Impact Physicians and Their Patients
MEDIA ALERT
July 15, 2011
(CHICAGO) — Representatives of the nation’s more than 78,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) will vote Saturday, July 16, on organizational policies on a variety of health care issues impacting physicians and their patients during the American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) House of Delegates Meeting. The meeting, which began on Friday, July 15, is being held at the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago.
On Saturday evening, Martin S. Levine, DO, a third-generation osteopathic physician, will follow in the footsteps of his late father, Howard M. Levine, DO, as he is sworn in as the 115th president of the AOA.
Events scheduled for Saturday, July 16
All events will take place in the Imperial Ballroom (B-2 Floor)
A.T. Still Memorial Lecture — 8 to 8:45 a.m.
Barbara Ross Lee, DO, the first African-American woman to serve as dean of a U.S. medical school and the vice president for health sciences and medical affairs at the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, will deliver this annual address given by a leader in the osteopathic medical profession to celebrate the philosophies of Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, the father of osteopathic medicine as well as the founder of the first college of osteopathic medicine.
House of Delegates Reference Committee Reports — 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Reference committee chairmen will present recommendations for resolutions discussed the previous day. Delegates will vote on these organizational policies.
Inaugural Speech by 2011-2012 AOA President — 4 to 5 p.m.
Martin S. Levine, DO, an AOA board-certified family physician from Short Hills, N.J., will be sworn in as the AOA’s 115th president.
More than 100 resolutions will be considered for discussion, including:
Cyberbullying Through Social Media
Delegates will consider a policy that supports the education of parents and other adults in positions of authority about the dangers of cyberbullying through media advocacy efforts. The policy also calls for DOs to actively talk to their patients and their patients’ parents or guardians about cyberbullying. In advance of the meeting, the AOA released the results of a national survey of the parents of teenagers ages 13 to 17 which found that one in six parents were aware that their child had been the victim of cyberbullying.
Damage to Hearing from Use of Headphones
Delegates will vote if the AOA should advocate for manufacturers to include information about the hazards of unsafe volume levels and to implement built-in mechanisms that can be enabled to limit a product’s decibel output. The policy also calls for DOs educating teens and parents about safety concerns of using headphones.
Dangers of the “Choking Game”
Also called the fainting game, blackout, and flatliner, the “choking game’s” promise of achieving a feeling of euphoria by limiting the flow of oxygen to the brain has the potential to cause loss of function or suffocation resulting in permanent disability or death. In an effort to prevent unnecessary harm to teens, delegates will vote on a resolution supporting the inclusion of information about the dangers of the “choking game” in classroom education and other school-sponsored discussions about drugs and risky behaviors. The measure also calls for increasing awareness among parents, counselors and physicians of the dangers and warning signs associated with the “choking game” and the resources available for educating teens.
Sports and Prevention of Traumatic Brain Injury
Although it is commonly associated with professional athletes, such as football players, traumatic brain injury can occur in student athletes as well. Delegates will vote on a policy calling for the AOA to support the development of official sports rules that consider traumatic brain injury prevention for school sports, sports clubs and professional leagues.
Prescription for Over-the-Counter Medications
Earlier this year, a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) eliminated people’s ability to use flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts and other tax preferred accounts for the purchase of over-the-counter medications unless they obtain a physician’s prescription. Delegates will consider two resolutions that call for eliminating this provision from the PPACA: Oppose the Requirements for Physician Prescription for Over-the-Counter Medications to Qualify for Flexible Spending Accounts and Prescription for Over-the-Counter Medications.
Media Interviews
The AOA House of Delegates is open to the media. AOA spokespeople will be available upon request to discuss the issues that have been voted on during the meeting. AOA media relations staff will be on site in the Chancellor Room of the Fairmont Hotel. During the meeting, media can arrange interviews or request more information by calling Nicole Grady at (312) 593-6897 or Mike Campea at (312) 730-0370.
About the American Osteopathic Association
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) proudly represents its professional family of more than 78,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.
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Contacts
AOA Pressroom - Chancellor Room of the Fairmont Hotel
During the meeting, use mobile numbers to reach press contacts on site at the meeting.
Nicole Grady
(312) 202-8038 (Office)
(312) 593-6897 (Mobile)