SENATE DOCKET, NO.                 FILED ON: 7/10/2014

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2261

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Fourteen

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Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to robotic surgery in the Commonwealth.

Resolved, That there shall be a special commission on robotic surgery which shall make an investigation and study relative to the use of robotic surgery.  The commission shall consist of 3 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be the senate chair of the joint committee on public health, 1 of whom shall be a member of the majority party and 1 of whom shall be a member of the minority party to be appointed by the minority leader; provided however, that 1 member of the senate shall be designated as co-chair of the commission; 3 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be the house chair of the joint committee on public health, 1 of whom shall be a member of the majority party and 1 of whom shall be a member of the minority party who shall be appointed by the minority leader; provided, however, that 1 member of the house shall be designated as co-chair of the commission; the commissioner of public health, or a designee; a representative appointed by the Massachusetts Medical Society; a representative appointed by the American Urological Society; a representative of the Society of Gynecological Surgeons; a representative appointed by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons; a representative appointed by the American Cancer Society; a representative appointed by the Massachusetts Hospital Association; a representative of  a community hospital with experience in robotic surgery; and 3 persons to be appointed by the governor who have undergone robotic surgery.

(b) The commission shall investigate and review the use of robotic surgery and: (i) work to develop a training protocol for each application of robotic surgery currently being performed; (ii) develop an application process for hospitals to propose the certification of any new applications of robotic surgery; and (iii) establish guidelines for surgeon training and experience to perform robotic surgery.  The department of public health shall provide staff and other resources as the commission considers appropriate.  The special commission may report to the general court from time to time, the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than October 31, 2015.