By:  Armbrister                                       S.C.R. No. 64
                             SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, The obligation to manage pain and relieve a
    1-2  patient's suffering is an important part of a health professional's
    1-3  commitment; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Thousands of Texans feel some form of acute or
    1-5  chronic pain daily, resulting in increased hospitalization and
    1-6  treatment costs as well as increased work absences; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, Unrelieved pain yields negative physical and
    1-8  psychological consequences for patients; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, Aggressive pain prevention and control that occurs
   1-10  before, during, and after surgery can yield both short-term and
   1-11  long-term benefits to patients; now, therefore, be it
   1-12        RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-13  hereby direct the Texas Department of Health to create a task force
   1-14  to be known as the Task Force On Pain Management to study medical
   1-15  pain management procedures and the care and treatment of such
   1-16  patients in the state and to identify any substantial disparity and
   1-17  the success of techniques used in different health care settings;
   1-18  and, be it further
   1-19        RESOLVED, That the task force be comprised of two members of
   1-20  the Senate appointed by the lieutenant governor; two members of the
   1-21  house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of
   1-22  representatives; the commissioner of health or his designee; two
   1-23  public members appointed by the speaker of the house of
    2-1  representatives, at least one of whom shall be a representative of
    2-2  a health care profession practicing anesthesiology; two public
    2-3  members appointed by the lieutenant governor, at least one of whom
    2-4  shall be a representative of nurses practicing in a hospital
    2-5  setting; and two public members appointed by the governor, at least
    2-6  one of whom shall be a representative of a chronic pain patient
    2-7  group; and, be it further
    2-8        RESOLVED, That the Task Force On Pain Management make a
    2-9  complete report of its findings and recommendations, along with any
   2-10  drafts of legislation necessary to carry out such recommendations
   2-11  to the 74th Legislature when it convenes in January, 1995.