HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3613

consent to the treatment of breast cancer educate certain
patients in a certain manner about the methods of treatment
available for breast cancer; requiring the Department of

Health and Mental Hygiene to provide a standardized written

summary containing certain information about breast cancer;
providing for an exception; providing a penalty for failure

to educate a breast cancer patient about available

treatments in a certain manner; making the provisions of
this Act supplemental and additional to any requirements now
existing upon a physician; providing for a delayed effective
date; and generally relating to the treatment of breast
cancer.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Health Occupations
Section 14-504(25) and (26)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1981 Volume and 1985 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - Health Occupations
Section 14-504(27)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1981 Volume and 1985 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - Health - General

Section 20-113 to be under the new part "Part IV. Breast

Cancer"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1982 Volume and 1985 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, The fear of breast cancer and the dread of possible
disfigurement as a result of treatment for it are common to all
women; and

WHEREAS, Recent medical developments have rendered it

unnecessary for many women with breast cancer to undergo the
drastic operation commonly known as radical mastectomy; and

WHEREAS, Some physicians are not aware of these developments
or conversant with these methods of treatment for breast cancer;
and

WHEREAS, The physician has the ultimate responsibility for
choosing a treatment that is tailored for the individual patient
under the circumstances; and