FSMB Adopts Policies on Medical Disinformation, Telemedicine, DEI, Emergency Preparedness and Response
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 6, 2022) – The Federation of State Medical Boards’ House of Delegates considered and adopted four new policies at FSMB’s 110th Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Policies adopted by the FSMB provide best practices and guidance to state medical boards on issues impacting medical regulation.
The FSMB House of Delegates is the governing body of the FSMB, comprised of 70 voting delegates from each of the nation’s state medical and osteopathic boards. The policies adopted by the House of Delegates at the meeting include:
Professional Expectations Regarding Medical Misinformation and Disinformation
This policy contains several important recommendations for medical boards and physicians that clarify expectations about sharing truthful and transparent medical information with the public, basing treatment recommendations on the best available scientific evidence, and anticipating difficult conversations with patients about controversial topics. The policy follows months of discussion and deliberation by the FSMB’s Ethics and Professionalism Committee and outside experts in law and ethics on the topic of medical misinformation and disinformation.
The full report and recommendations can be found here.
The Appropriate Use of Telemedicine Technologies in the Practice of Medicine
This policy provides guidance to state medical boards for regulating the use of telemedicine technologies in the practice of medicine, while raising awareness for licensees and patients alike as to the appropriate standards of care in the delivery of medical services via telemedicine technologies.
The full report and recommendations can be found here.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Medical Regulation and Patient Care
This policy recommends meaningful and achievable steps that state medical boards, the FSMB, and our partners in medical education, regulation and practice may wish to consider as action items to eliminate racism and bias from health care delivery.
The full report and recommendations can be found here.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
This policy contains recommendations and resources designed to assist medical boards during the COVID-19 pandemic and in future public health and national emergencies.
The full report and recommendations can be found here.
About the Federation of State Medical Boards:
The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) is a national non-profit organization representing the medical boards within the United States and its territories that license and discipline allopathic and osteopathic physicians and, in some jurisdictions, other health care professionals. The FSMB serves as the voice for state medical boards, supporting them through education, assessment, research and advocacy while providing services and initiatives that promote patient safety, quality health care and regulatory best practices. The FSMB serves the public through Docinfo.org, a free physician search tool which provides background information on the more than 1 million doctors in the United States. To learn more about the FSMB, visit www.fsmb.org. You can also follow FSMB on Twitter (@theFSMB).