Bill > H4114

This bill establishes a special commission to investigate and study the use of robotic surgery in the Commonwealth, with the goal of developing best practices and principles for training, certification, and surgeon experience. The commission will be comprised of members from the senate and house of representatives, including the chairs of the joint committee on public health, along with representatives from the Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Medical Society, the American Urological Society, the Society of Gynecological Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Cancer Society, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, a community hospital with experience in robotic surgery, and three individuals who have undergone robotic surgery. The commission is tasked with creating training protocols for current robotic surgery applications, certification processes for new applications, and guidelines for surgeon training and experience, and is expected to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the general court by December 31, 2017.