State Board of Medical Examiners
Open Minutes
March 19, 2008

A meeting of the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners was held on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex, 25 Market Street, 4th Floor Conference Center, Trenton, New Jersey. The meeting was called to order by Dr. Criscito, President.

PRESENT

Board Members Cheema, Ciechanowski, Clemency-Kohler, Criscito, Criss, Haddad, Jordan, Lambert, Lomazow, Mendelowitz, Paul, Reichman, Scott, Stanley, and Walsh.

EXCUSED

Board Members DeGregorio, Nussbaum, Salas-Lopez, Strand, Weiss, and Wheeler.

ALSO PRESENT

Senior Deputy Attorney General Dick, Deputy Attorneys General Flanzman, Gelber, Jespersen, and Ehrenkrantz; Medical Education Director Blanks; William V. Roeder, Executive Director and Mary Lou Mottola, Executive Director of the Medical Practitioner Review Panel.

STATEMENT CONCERNING THE ANNUAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS

The requirements of the "Open Public Meetings Act" have been satisfied by notice of this meeting given in the annual notice adopted by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners on September 26, 2007 which was transmitted to the ATLANTIC CITY PRESS, STAR LEDGER, CAMDEN COURIER POST, ASBURY PARK PRESS, BERGEN RECORD and the TRENTON TIMES, all on the 1st day of October 2007.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NONE

MINUTES THE BOARD, UPON MOTION MADE AND SECONDED, VOTED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 13, 2008 OPEN BOARD MINUTES

MINUTES THE BOARD, UPON MOTION MADE AND SECONDED, VOTED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 11, 2008 OPEN CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE MINUTES

MINUTES THE BOARD, UPON MOTION MADE AND SECONDED, VOTED TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 15, 2007 OPEN PERFUSIONIST COMMITTEE MINUTES

MINUTES THE BOARD, UPON MOTION MADE AND SECONDED, VOTED TO APPROVE THE MARCH 11, 2008 OPEN PERFUSIONIST COMMITTEE MINUTES

NEW BUSINESS

1. LEGISLATION

SENATE BILL 754

Seeks to revise the "Uniform Anatomical Gift Act."

It was introduced by Senator Richard J. Codey on or about January 8, 2008 and referred to the Senate Health Human and Senior Citizens Committee. It was reported out of Committee on or about February 14, 2008 for a second reading in the Senate.

THE BOARD, UPON MOTION MADE AND SECONDED, VOTED TO SUPPORT THE BILL.

SENATE BILL 755

This bill seeks to establish the "New Jersey Hero Act," so named to highlight the heroic act of donating one’s organs and tissues to save and enhance the lives of others. It was introduced by Senator Richard J. Codey on or about January 8, 2008 and referred to the Senate Health Human and Senior Citizens Committee. On or about February 14, 2008, it was reported out of Committee with amendments.. As amended by the committee, this bill contains two major initiatives. First, the bill mandates education for public high school, higher education, and medical school and nursing school students and professionals to dispel myths associated with organ donation, provide accurate information, and emphasize the fundamental responsibility of individuals to take appropriate action, when able, to help save another person’s life. Second, the bill ties organ donation decision-making to certain routine functions connected to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

The State Board of Medical Examiners and the New Jersey Board of Nursing, in collaboration with the designated Organ Procurement Organizations ("OPOs"), are to prescribe by regulation requirements for physician and professional nurse education and training.

THE BOARD, UPON MOTION MADE AND SECONDED, VOTED TO OPPOSE THE BILL. THE BOARD QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WAS THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY TO MANDATE CURRICULUM IN ANY MEDICAL SCHOOL AND NOTED THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ENTITIES THAT ARE CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY AND OVERSIGHT OF THE APPROPRIATE COURSES FOR A MEDICAL SCHOOL, SUCH AS THE LIAISON COUNSEL OF MEDICAL EDUCATION AND THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION. IT ALSO WAS NOTED THAT THIS REQUIREMENT DID NOT APPLY TO THOSE GRADUATING FROM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS OR MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN OTHER STATES. WHILE THE BOARD RECOGNIZED THAT THE PROPONENT REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT FOR CME IN THIS AREA, THE BOARD QUESTIONED AS TO THE UTILITY OF ‘ENCOURAGING’ SUCH A COURSE. THE BOARD AGAIN STRESSED THE OPINION THAT IT OPPOSED ANY ATTEMPT BY THE LEGISLATURE TO MANDATE PARTICULAR CME COURSES OR ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

2. PHYSICIANS ASSISTANT ADVISORY PROPOSAL

Attached was a copy of the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee’s proposed amendment to its regulations. The Comment period had closed and also attached were the comments received and proposed responses thereto. Approval for publication in the New Jersey Register as a final adoption was sought.

THE BOARD, UPON MOTION MADE AND SECONDED, VOTED TO APPROVE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NEW JERSEY REGISTER AS A FINAL ADOPTION.

OLD BUSINESS

Nothing Scheduled.

INFORMATIONAL

PUBLIC COMMENT

Respectfully submitted,

____________________________
Mario A. Criscito, M.D., President

Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Legal Statement | Accessibility Statement

division: dca home | complaint forms | licensing boards | adoptions | proposals | minutes | consumer protection

departmental: lps home | contact us | news | about us | FAQs | library | employment | programs and units | services a-z

statewide: nj home | my new jersey | people | business | government | departments | search