Position statements

The NZMA advocates on behalf of doctors and patients on many important issues in medicine. We develop policy positions and submissions on medical, political, medico-legal and public health issues. Policies and position statements are available below. 

• Proposed guidelines for Physician Assistant programme (2013 [pdf]
• Medical education and training position statement (2013) (PDF)
• Principles of health workforce redesign (2013) [pdf]
• Illegal drugs and addiction (2012) (PDF)
• Cannabis (revised July 2012) (PDF)
• Consensus statement on the role of the doctor in New Zealand (November 2011)
• Limited prescribing rights for Trainee Interns (2011)
• The RMO working environment (2011) (PDF)
• Health equity position statement (2011) (PDF)
• Integrated Family Health Centres position statement (revised July 2010) (PDF)
• Bullying and harassment position statement (2010) (PDF)
• Smokefree New Zealand position statement (2010) (PDF)
• Climate change position statement (2010) 
• Alcohol position statement (2010) (PDF)
• New roles and role substitution (2009)
• RMOs and their place of work (2009) (PDF)
• Telemedicine (2008) (PDF)
• Use of clinical quality indicators (2008)
• Patient confidentiality and HIV/AIDS (2008)
• Advance directives (revised 2007)
• Primary Health Care after hours position statement (2007)
• Commercial endorsements (2007)
• Care of older people (2007) (PDF)
• Laboratory services:
  • Initial statement (August 2006) (PDF)
  • Access to laboratory services (2007) (PDF)
• Medical school admission (2006)
• Obesity policy (2006) (PDF)
• Primary maternity care services position statement (2006) (PDF)
• Euthanasia (2005)
• Self and family treatment (2002) (PDF)
• Domestic violence (2001) (PDF)
• Retrospective medical certificates (2000) (PDF)
• Alternative treatments (1999) (PDF)
• Sexual relations between doctors and former patients (1997) (PDF)
• Persistent vegetative state (1994) (PDF)