PRINTER'S NO. 893
No. 49 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, WAGNER, HELFRICK, TARTAGLIONE, KUKOVICH,
LOGAN, O'PAKE, THOMPSON, MOWERY, BODACK, SCHWARTZ, MELLOW,
MUSTO, HUGHES, WOZNIAK, GREENLEAF, DENT, EARLL, KITCHEN AND
STACK, APRIL 12, 2001
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 12, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Declaring the month of April 2001 as "Diethylstilbestrol
2 Exposure Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was widely prescribed to an
4 estimated 5 million pregnant American women between 1938 and
5 1971 in the belief that it would prevent miscarriages; and
6 WHEREAS, More than 480,000 Pennsylvanians have been exposed
7 to DES; and
8 WHEREAS, The month of April 2001 is being nationally
9 recognized as "DES Exposure Awareness Month"; and
10 WHEREAS, Studies have shown that DES damages the reproductive
11 systems of those exposed in utero and increases the risk of
12 cancer, infertility, autoimmune disorders and a wide range of
13 other reproductive disorders; and
14 WHEREAS, Many Americans, including health care providers,
15 remain unaware of the consequences of DES exposure and the
16 recommended screening and treatment of affected patients; and
17 WHEREAS, DES exposure is associated with an increased risk of
1 breast, uterine and ovarian cancers in women and testicular and
2 urinary cancers in men; and
3 WHEREAS, Research on DES and its effects has produced
4 important advances to date, but much more needs to be done;
5 therefore be it
6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives declare the month
7 of April 2001 as "Diethylstilbestrol Exposure Awareness Month"
8 in Pennsylvania; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, That all citizens of this Commonwealth learn about
10 the symptoms, diseases, diagnoses and treatments associated with
11 DES exposure; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
13 DES Action Pennsylvania and DES Action USA.
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