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The American Medical Association (AMA) voted today at its Annual Meeting to
adopt the following new public health policies.
FLU PROTECTION GUIDELINES FOR AIRLINE TRAVEL: The recent outbreak of the H1N1
flu virus highlights the importance of basic hygiene to help protect patients
from the flu. The confined nature of air travel poses an increased risk for
influenza to passengers who are exposed to a sick flight mate who is coughing
and/or sneezing.
“Avoiding close contact with sick people and washing your hands
regularly can keep the flu bug away,” said AMA Board Member Joseph
Annis, M.D. “We support the efforts of the CDC to develop clear
and consistent guidelines to help ensure passengers and flight staff are protected
from the spread of disease.”
ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES IN SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAMS: Tobacco kills 500,000
Americans each year and the medical community employs numerous ways to help
patients quit smoking.
“We don’t yet know if electronic cigarettes can safely help
patients quit smoking or the risks associated with delivering nicotine in
this fashion,” said AMA Board Member Joseph Annis, M.D. “We
will study electronic cigarettes to see if this is a viable option to help
patients quit smoking and reduce the risk for smoking-related diseases.”
USE OF TASERS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES: An AMA report finds that tasers,
when used appropriately, can save lives during interventions that would have
otherwise involved the use of deadly force.
“While tasers can help law enforcement officers, proper use must
be ensured through specific guidelines, rigorous training and an accountability
system,” said AMA Board Member Joseph Annis, M.D. “There
should also be a standardized approach to the medical evaluation of subjects
exposed to tasers.”
VITAMIN D: To provide the public with credible information on vitamin D, the
AMA reviewed current research on the issue and determined that there is insufficient
data to recommend optimal levels for the population at large.
“We know vitamin D has health benefits for patients, such as
strong bones and a reduced risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease,
but we need more data to know how much is appropriate to recommend,”
said AMA Board Member Joseph Annis, M.D. “Long-term studies that
address the benefits and risks will go a long way toward helping physicians
determine what is best for their patients.”
About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association helps doctors help patients by uniting physicians
nationwide to work on the most important professional and public health issues.
Working together, the AMA's quarter of a million physician and medical student
members are playing an active role in shaping the future of medicine. For
more information on the AMA, please visit www.ama-assn.org.
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in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in
this news item was released by the American Medical Association (AMA) on 16
June 2009 and may have been edited (e.g. in style,
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