House calls for clarity in resolutions

A typical resolution proposed for consideration by the AOA House of Delegates includes several “Whereas” statements that detail the reasoning behind the proposal and one to three “Resolved” statements that specify the desired actions to be taken by the AOA. Once the House approves resolutions, they become AOA policy, and AOA staff enters only the “Resolved” statements into the AOA policy compendium.

The process often leaves the purpose of the policies unclear to those who read the policy statements in subsequent years, according to a resolution submitted by the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association. Yesterday, in a close vote, the House approved the resolution, which urges all resolution authors to clarify their intent with more detailed “Resolved” statements.

The resolution also authorizes AOA staff to make editorial changes to resolutions so their intent remains clear when integrated into the policy compendium.

New York delegate David L. Broder, DO, spoke in opposition to allowing AOA staff to annotate compiled “Resolved” statements. “We would be abrogating the responsibility of this House of Delegates to delegate editorial changes to staff,” he said on the House floor. “This could have unintended consequences. It is the responsibility of resolution authors to make sure ‘Resolved’ statements are clear.”