News Release: MSMA's Dobbs Statement

July 17, 2022

Missouri State Medical Association Issues Statement Regarding the Overruling Roe v. Wade

JEFFERSON CITY - On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States voted to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion, overruling the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973. This decision left the issue of abortion’s legality to each state to decide. In Missouri, the opinion means that a trigger law passed in 2019 by the state legislature is now in effect. The law bans abortion in Missouri, with the exception of abortions that are performed “in cases of medical emergency” (188.026, RSMo).

In light of this ruling, MSMA hosted a town hall-style discussion via videoconference for physicians to share their thoughts and concerns with their peers and MSMA staff. Among physicians who took part in the call, there was an overwhelming appeal for MSMA to put forward a statement regarding the trigger law. After robust discussion, the MSMA Council created the following statement during their most recent meeting:

“As physicians, our utmost responsibility is to the health and well-being of our patients. MSMA supports legislation that protects physician-patient autonomy, and opposes the criminalization of medically-necessary healthcare, and policies that restrict Missourians’ ability to access healthcare in Missouri and other states.”

The health and safety of patients is paramount to Missouri’s physicians. Patients are put at risk when they feel they cannot speak openly with their physician about medical decisions. Physicians and patients should be free to discuss and pursue medical procedures based on each patient’s individual set of circumstances and their physician’s best medical judgment without fear of intrusion from outside entities.

MSMA will continue to engage with legislators at the Missouri State Capitol as we advocate for physicians, patients, and the sacred and confidential physician-patient relationship.

MSMA, the state’s largest professional association of physicians, residents, and medical students, is dedicated to the protection of public health and betterment of the medical profession in Missouri. Visit www.msma.org.

###

News Release: MSMA Favors Schools to Require Masking 

August 26, 2021

Missouri State Medical Association in Favor of Allowing Schools to Require Masking

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri State Medical Association (MSMA) supports the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding the effectiveness of masks to reduce transmission of the COVID virus.

Furthermore, the MSMA agrees with the recommendations of the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommending a thoughtful community-based approach to safe reopening for in-school learning.  Both the CDC and AAP advise that local school districts should monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening testing, and occurrence of outbreaks to guide decisions on prevention strategies.  These strategies note that due to the circulating and highly contagious Delta variant, the AAP and CDC recommend universal indoor masking by all students ages 2 and older, staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status (unless there is a contra-indication).   MSMA is in full support of these recommendations for the safety of the children and staff in our communities.

"We believe that by allowing local school districts to follow CDC mask guidelines as they respond to local COVID data, communities will be better able to protect children as school begins."  - MSMA President Alex Hover, MD

MSMA, the state's largest professional association of physicians, residents, and medical students, is dedicated to the protection of public health and betterment of the medical profession in Missouri. Visit www.msma.org.

###