YOUTH CANCER-PREVENTION BILL DENIED BY SENATE REPUBLICANS
GOP puts politics ahead of science and ignores FDA warning
AUGUSTA – Senate Republicans blocked an effort that would reduce the risk of skin cancer in children. In a vote of 18 to 17, they refused to prohibit youth under the age of 18 from using tanning devices.
“Prevention is the best cure,” said Democratic State Senator Gratwick, a physician in Bangor and the sponsor of the measure. “It is our responsibility as parents and lawmakers to do everything we can to prevent cancer in our kids.”
Sen. Gratwick of Bangor
In May 2014, the federal Food and Drug Administration reclassified tanning devices so that manufacturers must now include a Black Box Warning. This is the strongest warning that the FDA administers, and signifies that medical studies indicate that the device carries a significant risk of serious or even life-threatening, adverse effects.
The bill has been praised by doctors, cancer patients, and health advocates, including the Maine Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society, the Melanoma Foundation of New England, the Maine Dermatological Society, the Maine Public Health Association, and the Maine Osteopathic Society.
Sen. Gratwick added, “Melanoma is near the top of the list of cancers you don’t want to get. It’s hard to stop; it spreads like a spider plant. When young people tan, they all too often end up with this extremely difficult to treat and all too often deadly form of skin cancer.”
According to medical studies, UVA radiation from tanning beds can increase the risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent for youth under the age of 25. In the United States, melanoma is the most common form of cancer in women under 30, with one American dying every hour from this disease.
“This is an important public health issue. Don’t ignore it! I’m disappointed that today, my colleagues from across the aisle put politics ahead of medical science and the health of our kids,” said Senator Gratwick.
The proposed Maine guidelines are already in force in nine states including California, New Jersey, Texas, Illinois, and Louisiana– all ban tanning beds for minors. In France and Brazil, tanning beds are banned for everyone, regardless of age.
The state’s Health and Human Services Committee voted 7 to 4 to support the bill, LD 123, “An Act to Reduce Youth Cancer.”
Senator Gratwick sponsored a similar bill last year during the 126th Legislature. The measure received broad support and was passed in both the Senate and the House but was vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage.
The measure will now go to the House for consideration.