Petition to Pennsylvania State Legislature, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and Related Specialty Societies to Take Action on Act 112.

Whereas, Pennsylvania Act 112 requires that institutions and interpreting physicians take action to notify patients in writing of any serious findings, and

Whereas; It is well recognized that the healthcare provider who orders studies on their patients, and who knows the patient's clinical situation, is the best person to interpret and relate findings to a patient, and

Whereas; Abnormal findings on studies should be interpreted in the context of the patients condition, and

Whereas; The individual reading said studies may have little or no insight into the patient's clinical status or the relevance of significant abnormal findings, and

Whereas; the individual reading said studies likely has no doctor-patient relationship with the patient, makes it inappropriate for him or her to properly communicate findings to the patient, and

Whereas; many studies include findings that the interpreting physician may or may not be able to be determined as to the significance clinically to any given patient, and

Whereas; abnormal findings given to patients in writing may inappropriately alarm a patient who may not be able to appropriately understand and react to said information, and

Whereas; many reported findings may unduly alarm patients, resulting in severe stress, and may drive them to actions that are inappropriate and may drive them to demand unnecessary additional work-ups and studies, and

Whereas; communication in writing with a patient may establish a defacto doctor-patient relationship resulting in inappropriate responsibilities and liabilities,

Be it therefore Resolved:

That the undersigned hereby request that our Pennsylvania Legislature Repeal Act 112, and ask that they collaborate with our Pennsylvania Medical Society and relevant Specialty Societies to establish more appropriate communication options:

Name: (Print legibly) Signature: Voting Address: E-mail:

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