1.1 	A House resolution
1.2 	relating to opposition of the criminalization of physicians providing care within their 
1.3 	scope of training and accepted standard of medical care for their specialty.
1.4 	WHEREAS, physicians have a professional and ethical obligation to act in the best interest 
1.5 	of their patients by following evidence-based practices when providing needed medical services;
1.6 	WHEREAS, the physician-patient relationship relies on a physician's ability to use his or her 
1.7 	medical judgment as to the information or treatment that is in the best interest of a patient;
1.8 	WHEREAS, physicians take all reasonable and necessary steps to ensure they exercise sound 
1.9 	medical decision-making and evidenced-based treatments in good faith;
1.10 	WHEREAS, Minnesota state laws should not criminalize physicians for practicing within 
1.11 	the accepted standard of medical care and within the scope of training for their specialty;
1.12 	WHEREAS, government or other third parties that seek to criminalize a physician's ability 
1.13 	to use his or her professional medical judgment as to the treatment that is in the best interest of a 
1.14 	patient compromise the trusted nature of the physician-patient relationship;
1.15 	NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of 
1.16 	Minnesota that government and other third-party interference in evidence-based medical care 
1.17 	compromises the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship and undermines the provision of 
1.18 	quality health care.
1.19 	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State of Minnesota opposes any government regulation 
1.20 	or legislative action which would criminalize physicians for providing evidence-based medical care 
1.21 	within the accepted standard of care according to nationally recognized professional practice 
1.22 	guidelines, and the scope of a physician's training and professional judgment.