News in brief - May 15, 2000

Pain bill moves out of committee

Washington -- The Senate Judiciary Committee, in a 10-8 vote last month, passed a bill that would ban the use of controlled substances in physician-assisted suicide.

Before approving the Pain Relief Promotion Act, which could now move to the Senate floor, the committee adopted amendments negotiated by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R, Utah) and several medical groups.

These changes, according to AMA President Thomas R. Reardon, MD, address concerns raised by the Association's House of Delegates at their 1999 Interim Meeting. Namely that states, not the federal government, will continue to regulate medical practice.

"This bill creates an environment in which physicians may administer appropriate and aggressive pain care for patients," he said.

Leawood, Kan. -- Douglas E. Henley, MD, has been named executive vice president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Henley will take over the helm of the 89,400-member AAFP on Aug. 1. He replaces Robert Graham, MD, who announced in July 1999 that he would leave the academy after 15 years in the top post. Dr. Henley, of Hope Mills, N.C., has served as AAFP president and as the chair of its board of directors. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

"During his tenure as a board member and officer of the AAFP, Dr. Henley effectively demonstrated his ability to work with multiple priorities and diverse constituencies," said AAFP Board Chair Lanny R. Copeland, MD. "He has the analytical skill necessary to develop and define current and emerging issues of importance to the academy, leading and directing the work of the academy staff in defining these challenges that are so important to both this organization and the specialty.