High court follows precedent supporting access to 12-person juries
Chicago, IL -- Doctors from the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) and ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company praise the Illinois Supreme Court’s 5-0 decision striking down an unconstitutional mandate to impose a six-person limit in civil jury size. Both organizations voiced concern over the flawed jury reduction legislation, which passed during the final days of Governor Quinn’s administration. The controversial law was considered an outgoing gesture to help personal injury lawyers, because smaller juries are perceived as more favorable to their clients.
“The move to allow six-person juries was misguided from day one,” said ISMS President Thomas M. Anderson, MD. He added that “delegates to both the 1870 and 1970 Illinois Constitutional Conventions considered the merit of six-person juries and purposefully deemed them inappropriate for Illinois. If that’s not an indication of constitutional intent, we don’t know what else could be.”
ISMIE Mutual Chairman Harold L. Jensen, MD offered that “the right to a trial before 12 people is an issue of legal fairness. Research has demonstrated that smaller juries have less diversity, are less deliberative and tend to deliver higher than average awards. Forcing the reduced jury composition is in essence a thumb on the legal scales.”
ISMS and ISMIE Mutual are proud of our advocacy to lead the effort to overturn this onerous law. Illinois’ difficult legal environment got a little bit better today.
UNITED STATES SURGEON GENERAL
Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A.
August 2016
Dear Colleague,
I am asking for your help to solve an urgent health crisis facing America: the opioid epidemic. Everywhere I travel, I see communities devastated by opioid overdoses. I meet families too ashamed to seek treatment for addiction. And I will never forget my own patient whose opioid use disorder began with a course of morphine after a routine procedure.
It is important to recognize that we arrived at this place on a path paved with good intentions. Nearly two decades ago, we were encouraged to be more aggressive about treating pain, often without enough training and support to do so safely. This coincided with heavy marketing of opioids to doctors. Many of us were even taught – incorrectly – that opioids are not addictive when prescribed for legitimate pain.
The results have been devastating. Since 1999, opioid overdose deaths have quadrupled and opioid prescriptions have increased markedly – almost enough for every adult in America to have a bottle of pills. Yet the amount of pain reported by Americans has not changed. Now, nearly 2 million people in America have a prescription opioid use disorder, contributing to increased heroin use and the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.
I know solving this problem will not be easy. We often struggle to balance reducing our patients’ pain with increasing their risk of opioid addiction. But, as clinicians, we have the unique power to help end this epidemic. As cynical as times may seem, the public still looks to our profession for hope during difficult moments. This is one of those times.
That is why I am asking you to pledge your commitment to turn the tide on the opioid crisis. Please take the pledge. Together, we will build a national movement of clinicians to do three things:
First, we will educate ourselves to treat pain safely and effectively. A good place to start is this pocket guide with the CDC Opioid Prescribing Guideline. Second, we will screen our patients for opioid use disorder and provide or connect them with evidence-based treatment. Third, we can shape how the rest of the country sees addiction by talking about and treating it as a chronic illness, not a moral failing.
Years from now, I want us to look back and know that, in the face of a crisis that threatened our nation, it was our profession that stepped up and led the way. I know we can succeed because health care is more than an occupation to us. It is a calling rooted in empathy, science, and service to humanity. These values unite us. They remain our greatest strength.
Thank you for your leadership.
The DuPage Medical Society Foundation Board of Trustees announces the awarding of fourteen 2016 student scholarships.
Monica Sharma of Downers Grove is the recipient of the prestigious James P. Campbell, MD Memorial Scholarship.
While maintaining an impressive GPA, Monica also tutored her fellow students in science and math. She noted that explaining a subject, concept or technique strengthened her own grasp of it. She has, on her own volition, created YouTube videos explaining complex concepts in Developmental Biology. Her professor believes this will benefit students in future years.
The James P. Campbell, MD, Memorial Scholarship was established in 1998 to honor the memory of a distinguished DuPage County physician who for 60 years was also a great advocate for organized medicine. He served the DuPage County Medical Society (DCMS) and other branches of organized medicine in many ways, but most significantly as the Society’s secretary-treasurer for 29 years. Recipients of the James P. Campbell, MD, Memorial Scholarship must exhibit an outstanding academic background and extraordinary potential for a future in medicine.
Christopher James Murray of Hinsdale has been awarded the 2015 William B. Frymark, MD, Honorary Scholarship. He was the recipient of the Foundation's James P. Campbell, MD Memorial Scholarship in 2015. His goal is both to care for patients and positively transform domestic and international health care systems. He brings an interdisciplinary, international perspective to medicine after having worked in politics, finance and health policy research in four countries. So far, as a student, he has been involved with a medical-device start-up company that strives to make safe, sterile surgery accessible to all. After medical school, he wants to deepen his involvement in the intersection of medicine, policy, and innovation to help improve health around the world.
The William B. Frymark, MD, Honorary Scholarship is a tribute to one of the Foundation’s founders who, in the ensuing half century, has remained a dedicated supporter and steward of the organization. Doctor Frymark served many terms as a trustee and president of the Foundation’s Board. He also held many leadership positions with the DuPage County Medical Society. Recipients of the William B. Frymark, MD, Honorary Scholarship demonstrate superior academic ability, a commitment to service, and great potential as a healthcare service provider.
In awarding grants, Trustees show no preference for nor prejudice against former recipients.
Other 2016 scholarship recipients are as follows:
Olga Banys, Willowbrook, Physician Assistant
Laura E. Burns, Naperville, Medicine
Brendan Frainey, Elmhurst, Medicine
Mary Catherine Heaton, Wheaton, Orthotics and Prosthetics
Jeffrey C. Jin, Naperville, Osteopathic Medicine
Benjamin Kiesel, Hanover Park, Medicine
Nora K. Kobayshi, Downers Grove, Nursing
Daniel D. Li, Lisle, Medicine
Gabriela Navejas, West Chicago, Physical Therapy
Lisa Patel, Roselle, Medicine
Oliv Er Phreykz, Lisle, Nursing
Heather E. Rickord, Lombard, Nursing
“Once again we had an outstanding group of student applicants,” said Foundation president, Ronald H. Stefani, Jr. MD. “The Foundation takes great care with the evaluation of each candidate so as to manage our philanthropic resources wisely in supporting these future health professionals."
Each year the DuPage Medical Society Foundation awards 100 percent of the funds received from contributors. Including this year’s grants, the Foundation has awarded over $372,000 in student scholarships.
