HARRY HUGHES, Governor

1711

Drug DES - Information and Assistance

FOR the purpose of identifying persons who have been exposed
to the potential hazards and affliction of
diethylstilbestrol, commonly referred to as DES;
requiring that the Secretary of Health and Mental
Hygiene establish, promote, and maintain a public
information campaign on DES; requiring that the
Secretary, within certain limits, expand existing
cancer screening programs to detect certain
malignancies and abnormalities and establish a training
program for the purpose of instructing certain persons
in the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
of DES exposed persons; providing that persons
receiving services under this Act may be charged a
certain fee; providing for the application of any fees
charged; and permitting the Secretary to request and
receive certain assistance and data from any
governmental body of this State or of any political
subdivision.

BY adding to

Article 43 - Health

Section 33A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1980 Replacement Volume and 1980 Supplement)

Preamble

The effective identification, screening, diagnosis,
care, and treatment of persons who have taken
diethylstilbestrol, commonly referred to as DES, or who have
been exposed to DES prenatally is of paramount public
importance.

Between 1940 and 1970, DES, a synthetic estrogen type
hormone, was administered extensively to pregnant women
threatened with miscarriage. Subsequently, a causal
association was found between DES and certain types of
cancer and abnormalities in the female offspring of those
who took the drug during pregnancy. As a result of these
findings, the use of DES during pregnancy has been
discontinued. The vast majority of exposed persons are
unaware of their exposure and have not been screened
adequately for any malignant condition.

This problem in cancer control is likely to grow
significantly over the next few years as exposed female
offspring reach reproductive age, the time when
abnormalities become apparent. The situation is compounded
by the relative newness of the studies associating DES with
cancer. Thus, many physicians are not yet familiar with
screening and treatment techniques or with the implications
of the most recent research results.