HR 8

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/17/2022 02:19pm

A House resolution
relating to opposition of the criminalization of physicians providing care within their
scope of training and accepted standard of medical care for their specialty.

WHEREAS, physicians have a professional and ethical obligation to act in the best interest
of their patients by following evidence-based practices when providing needed medical services;

WHEREAS, the physician-patient relationship relies on a physician's ability to use his or her
medical judgment as to the information or treatment that is in the best interest of a patient;

WHEREAS, physicians take all reasonable and necessary steps to ensure they exercise sound
medical decision-making and evidenced-based treatments in good faith;

WHEREAS, Minnesota state laws should not criminalize physicians for practicing within
the accepted standard of medical care and within the scope of training for their specialty;

WHEREAS, government or other third parties that seek to criminalize a physician's ability
to use his or her professional medical judgment as to the treatment that is in the best interest of a
patient compromise the trusted nature of the physician-patient relationship;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of
Minnesota that government and other third-party interference in evidence-based medical care
compromises the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship and undermines the provision of
quality health care.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State of Minnesota opposes any government regulation
or legislative action which would criminalize physicians for providing evidence-based medical care
within the accepted standard of care according to nationally recognized professional practice
guidelines, and the scope of a physician's training and professional judgment.