PRINTER'S NO. 1560
No. 249 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, APRIL 14, 2004
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 14, 2004
A RESOLUTION 1 Declaring the month of April 2004 as "Diethylstilbestrol 2 Exposure Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. 3 WHEREAS, Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was widely prescribed to an 4 estimated 5 million pregnant American women between 1938 and 5 1971 in the belief that it would prevent miscarriages; and 6 WHEREAS, More than 480,000 Pennsylvanians have been exposed 7 to DES; and 8 WHEREAS, The month of April 2004 is being nationally 9 recognized as "DES Exposure Awareness Month"; and 10 WHEREAS, Studies have shown that DES damages the reproductive 11 systems of those exposed in utero and increases the risk of 12 cancer, infertility, autoimmune disorders and a wide range of 13 other reproductive disorders; and 14 WHEREAS, Many Americans, including health care providers, 15 remain unaware of the consequences of DES exposure and the 16 recommended screening and treatment of affected patients; and 17 WHEREAS, DES exposure is associated with an increased risk of
1 breast, uterine and ovarian cancers in women and testicular and 2 urinary cancers in men; and 3 WHEREAS, Research on DES and its effects has produced 4 important advances to date, but much more needs to be done; 5 therefore be it 6 RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania declare the month 7 of April 2004 as "Diethylstilbestrol Exposure Awareness Month" 8 in Pennsylvania; and be it further 9 RESOLVED, That all citizens of this Commonwealth learn about 10 the symptoms, diseases, diagnoses and treatments associated with 11 DES exposure; and be it further 12 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to: 13 DES Action Pennsylvania, P.O. Box 398, Nescopeck, PA 18635-0398. C15L82JAM/20040S0249R1560 - 2 -