10/1/2024 UPDATE: Thank you to all who have taken the time to speak out against A1884, a bill that restricts the freedom of speech of not only physicians in NJ but all licensed health care professionals in the state.
On September 30, 2024, a NJ State Senate companion bill to A1884 was introduced, S3700. Assigned to the Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens committee, a hearing date has not officially been announced, but we have heard that S3700 could be added to the agenda of the committee’s Monday, October 7 hearing.
Please take a few moments to send committee members (and your own NJ state senator) a messages asking them to oppose S3700.
You can get your messages on the way with a couple clicks at the following link:https://p2a.co/DyFboSa
More details about this bad legislation are below.
Alert from 9/24/2024
Dear AAPS Members and Friends in New Jersey,
As Dr. Craig M. Wax warned New Jerseyans on the Bill Spadea show Monday (listen here), a dangerous bill, A1884, has been introduced in the NJ Assembly that will punish physicians who speak with their patients about issues that directly impact their well-being and health.
For example, under the legislation physicians who discuss the potential benefits of off-label drugs, provide information about vaccine safety, or challenge the wisdom of harmful lockdowns and unscientific masking mandates, could be charged with unprofessional conduct for disseminating “misinformation or disinformation,” subjected to disciplinary action, and potentially lose their medical license.
A1884 will harm the welfare of New Jersey patients, the integrity of the medical profession, and the well-being of the entire state.
On September 23, 2024 the Assembly Health Committee held a hearing on the bill (listen here). No one testifying supported the bill. All testimony presented was in opposition. Nonetheless, the Assembly Health Committee approved A1884, sending it along to its next step, consideration by the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee.
Thank you to AAPS Board Member and NJ physician Renee Kohanski, MD for being at the Capitol Monday in Trenton to testify in opposition to the bill.
“We must be exceedingly and heroically cautious in limiting the freedom and free flow of conversation and thought in the patient doctor relationship and that’s why this bill must not pass,” Dr. Kohanski cautions. She concludes, “Quite frankly, it’s [AB 1884] dangerous.” Click here to read her full testimony.
Thank you for speaking out. Your voice makes a difference!
