Change of Status
The Board of Directors approved the requests received from the following physicians for reinstatement of membership: John H. Choie, MD and Gregory K. Suelzle, MD

The Board of Directors also accepted the request received from Doctor Robert M. Ricks for retired status of membership.

Books Available
The SBCMS Historical Committee collects old medical books published prior to 1925 for the Medical Museum's Kleinman Library. Because space in the library is limited, the committee recently removed a small number of texts of more recent publication to make room for additional old texts. Persons interested in "adopting" these books should contact Michele Brown, Historical Committee Coordinator, at (909) 825-6526 for a list. The committee sends the books that are not claimed to medical missionaries in Mexico.

AMA Endorses Cloning for Research
The American Medical Association, during its annual June meeting of the House of Delegates in Chicago, endorsed cloning for research purposes, saying it is medically ethical but allowing doctors who oppose the practice to refuse to perform it. Policymaking delegates adopted the measure without debate after discussing the issue. "It makes a stance for science," said Dr. Michael Goldrich, incoming chairman of the committee that drafted the cloning report. The proposal focused on a laboratory procedure designed to create embryos to cultivate their stem cells, which are master cells that can potentially grow into any type of human tissue. Scientists believe such cells could potentially be used to treat a wide range of human diseases. Such early embryos would be discarded when they consist of only a few cells, but they could theoretically develop into a human if implanted into a woman's uterus.

New Medi-Cal Patients Rejected
Nearly half of California physicians are not willing to treat new Medi-Cal patients -- despite higher reimbursement rates in recent years -- according to a study released in June. Specialty physicians have even lower participation rates, according to the study by the Medi-Cal Policy Institute at the California HealthCare Foundation. Only 28 percent of orthopedic surgeons and 38 percent of endocrinologists take Medi-Cal patients. The report came at a time when state legislators were debating a budget proposal by Gov. Gray Davis to reduce Medi-Cal reimbursement rates to providers by 15 percent.