TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Resolution 203 (A-06)
Subject: Sexually Transmitted Disease Follow Up
Introduced by: John R. Asbury, MD
Referred to: Reference Committee on Public Health
Whereas, Texas physicians continue to see a significant number of patients with sexually transmitted diseases; and
Whereas, There is an increasing incidence of Chlamydia in the Texas population and a persistent and excessive amount of syphilis and gonococcal infection; and
Whereas, It is the responsibility of the physicians caring for these patients to encourage them to inform their sexual partner(s) of the potential STD risk and to urge their partner(s) to seek diagnosis and treatment; and
Whereas, The success rate for getting the sexual partner to be evaluated for sexually transmitted disease is very low, and often the physician will see the same patient reinfected several times over a short period; and
Whereas, Texas physicians report sexually transmitted disease to the appropriate public health authorities as required by law; and
Whereas, It appears to be rare to have any Texas public health personnel contact the infected patient to determine if the patient's sexual partner has a sexually transmitted disease such as Chlamydia and gonococcal infection; and
Whereas, It is unusual for our state public health department to locate and notify the patient's sexual partner that the patient has a sexually transmitted disease, thus ensuring appropriate medical care if necessary and decreasing the spread of a sexually transmitted disease; and
Whereas, Chlamydia and gonococcal infection can cause severe medical problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease, sterility in the female patient secondary to the infection, and other significant medical conditions, and these diseases also can be associated with other sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis and HIV; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Texas Medical Association House of Delegates express concern for the present high level and increasing rate of sexually transmitted disease in Texas; and be it further
RESOLVED, That TMA express its concern to the Texas Department of State Health Services about the treating physician's inability to receive appropriate identification of other infected individuals with sexually transmitted disease.
Relevant TMA Policy
260.021 Sexually Transmitted Diseases : The Texas Medical Association urges increased efforts at local, state, and federal levels to bring sexually transmitted diseases, in particular the newer challenges, such as human papilloma virus and chlamydia, under control through professional and public education, and supports the efforts of the Texas Department of State Health Services, Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health and other appropriate activities (Council on Public Health, p 98, A-93; amended CM-ID Rep. 1-A-03).
TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2006