SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                      1611

tation of this study and for providing such staff services, and the
employment of such clerical and other personnel as may be necessary
therefor; and be it further

Resolved, That the Commission is requested to report its findings
and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Approved May 7, 1968.

No. 39
(House Joint Resolution 41)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Medical-Chirurgical Faculty
of Maryland to join the Consumer Protection Division of the
Maryland Attorney General's office to investigate the promiscuous
dispensing of diet pills to determine whether the Legislative
Council should consider legislation to control such practices.

Whereas, it is estimated by the Food and Drug Administration
that approximately 250 doctors in the county treat overweight per-
sons exclusively; and

Whereas, recent articles in the newspapers have indicated that
certain practitioners of medicine in the Baltimore area specialize in
treatment of patients for weight reduction; and

Whereas, the newspaper articles herein referred to indicate an
extent of practice of overwhelming proportions, such as to stagger
the imagination; and

Whereas, the descriptions given of alleged consultations and
treatments is such as to raise serious doubts as to the medical
adequacy in the minds of the lay person; and

Whereas, the health of our citizens is of utmost importance to the
State, as the State is to the people; and

Whereas, said newspaper articles raise a serious question as to
whether some type of control should be exercised over such practices;
and

Whereas, no decision can be made in this regard without an ade-
quate investigation by knowledgeable people; now, therefore be it

Resolved, by the General Assembly of Maryland, that the Medical-
Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland be requested to investigate the
promiscuous dispensing of diet pills; and, be it further,

Resolved, that the Medical-Chirurgical Faculty ask the Consumer
Protection Division of the Attorney General's office to join with
and assist them in conducting such investigation; and, be it further