California Medical Association
Robert Lull, MD and Steve Heilig, MPH

Endorsed By: San Francisco District VIII Delegation 100%

WHEREAS, there is increasing scientific evidence that "environmental" factors such as chemical pollutants are contributing to the incidence of some diseases and conditions, such as some cancers, endometriosis, infertility, birth defects, asthma, learning disabilities, autism, and others; and

WHEREAS, considerable uncertainty still exists regarding the mechanisms and degree of such causation, with substantially increased and more targeted research needed in those areas; and

WHEREAS, patients with some of these conditions have developed organizations for support, education, and advocacy, and the CMA has already adopted policy favoring cooperation with such groups; and

WHEREAS, lack of resources and established scientific and medical contacts and credibility have hindered effective activity on the part of some of these patient organizations; and

WHEREAS, both patients and physicians stand to gain substantially from the greater elucidation of environmental factors in disease and in a more informed and organized patient population; therefore be it

RESOLVED: That CMA urges greater public and private funding for research into the environmental causes of disease, and urges the National Academy of Sciences to undertake an authoritative analysis of this issue; and be it further

RESOLVED: That CMA will cooperate in development of a coordinating body of patient groups related to environmental causality of disease, seeking to define and further shared goals and needs; and be it further

RESOLVED: That this matter be referred for national action.