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On November 1, MSDC submitted written testimony supporting B25-0043, the Losing Outdated, Violent Exceptions (LOVE) Amendment Act of 2023. The bill would repeal DC law allowing parents to refuse medical treatment for their children for religious reasons. MSDC has policy from 1993 (and subsequently reaffirmed) supporting the repeal of this law.

Below is Dr. Ashesh Patel's testimony.

November 1, 2023
 
Councilmember Janeese Lewis George
Chair, Committee on Facilities and Family Services
1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004
 
Dear Chair Lewis George,
 
The Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) is the largest medical organization representing metropolitan Washington physicians in the District. We advocate on behalf of all 11,000 plus licensed physicians in the District and seek to make the District the nation’s model for patient care and physician practice.

Thank you for allowing us to submit written comments on B25-0043, the Losing Outdated, Violent Exceptions Amendment Act of 2023.

MSDC supports this legislation. We join the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association in supporting a repeal of religious exemptions for refusing medical care. MSDC has had a policy calling for the repeal of laws permitting religious exemptions since 1993, because we believe the health and welfare of children is paramount. As the letter introducing the bill points out, the majority of children shielded from medical treatment for “religious” reasons die from treatable conditions. Allowing outdated exemptions to law endangers children who may be subject to other forms of mistreatment.

Please reach out to the MSDC office if our membership can be of assistance on this or any issue. We look forward to working with you and the Committee to improve the health of the District.

Sincerely,

Ashesh D. Patel, MD, FACP
President
Medical Society of DC