26:2-113. Legislative findings and declarations
The Legislature finds that the effective identification, diagnosis, care and treatment of persons who have been exposed to diethylstilbestrol, commonly referred to as DES, is of paramount public importance; that DES, a synthetic estrogen-type hormone, was extensively administered between 1940 and 1970 to pregnant women threatened with miscarriage; that, subsequently, a causal relationship was found between DES and an unusual type of cervical and vaginal cancer in the daughters of persons who took the drug during pregnancy; that use of DES during pregnancy has been discontinued as a result of these findings, but that as many as 75,000 persons in New Jersey may have been exposed to the drug during its period of usage.
The Legislature further finds that the magnitude of this problem may only be realized in the next few years as the daughters of women exposed to the drug reach reproductive age, the time when such abnormalities become apparent; that the situation is compounded by the relative newness of the studies associating DES with cancer and the uncertainty over the implications of recent research; and that many physicians are not yet familiar with detection and treatment techniques because the problem has been relatively recently identified.
Therefore, the Legislature declares that it is imperative that programs be established to identify and diagnose persons who have been exposed to the drug diethylstilbestrol, to refer them to sources of care and treatment, and to provide an education program for physicians and other health care professionals so that exposed persons may benefit from the best possible diagnostic procedures and treatment.
L.1981, c. 288, s. 1, eff. Sept. 23, 1981.
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.