1.1A Senate resolution
1.2relating to opposition of the criminalization of physicians providing care within their
1.3scope of training and accepted standard of medical care for their specialty.
1.4WHEREAS, physicians have a professional and ethical obligation to act in the best interest
1.5of their patients by following evidence-based practices when providing needed medical services,
1.6WHEREAS, the physician-patient relationship relies on a physician's ability to use his or
1.7her medical judgment as to the information or treatment that is in the best interest of a patient,
1.8WHEREAS, physicians take all reasonable and necessary steps to ensure they exercise sound
1.9medical decision-making and evidenced-based treatments in good faith,
1.10WHEREAS, Minnesota state laws should not criminalize physicians for practicing within
1.11the accepted standard of medical care and within the scope of training for their specialty,
1.12WHEREAS, government or other third parties that seek to criminalize a physician's ability
1.13to use his or her professional medical judgment as to the treatment that is in the best interest of a
1.14patient compromise the trusted nature of the physician-patient relationship;
1.15NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that
1.16government and other third-party interference in evidence-based medical care compromises the
1.17sanctity of the physician-patient relationship and undermines the provision of quality health care.
1.18BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State of Minnesota opposes any government
1.19regulation or legislative action which would criminalize physicians for providing evidence-based
1.20medical care within the accepted standard of care according to nationally recognized professional
1.21practice guidelines, and the scope of a physician's training and professional judgment.