WHEREAS, the lives of many New Jersey women are impacted by congenital bleeding disorders; and

WHEREAS, the failure to correctly diagnose congenital bleeding disorders in women impacts on their health and well-being and may lead to unnecessary hysterectomies and an increased risk from bleeding at the time of surgery; and

WHEREAS, there is a statewide health need to ensure that women with congenital bleeding disorders are appropriately diagnosed and treated; and

WHEREAS, the women of New Jersey need to be made aware of the existing medical treatments for congenital bleeding disorders;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. There is hereby established the Governor's Task Force on Women and Bleeding Disorders ("Task Force"). The Task Force shall study the occurrence, methods and access to diagnosis and treatment options for women with congenital bleeding disorders and heighten awareness of this issue.
   

2. The Task Force shall consist of the following fifteen members:
   

   1. The Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services, or his designee, and the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services or her designee.
      

   2. Thirteen public members appointed by the Governor, including one New Jersey licensed obstetrician/ gynecologist, two New Jersey licensed hematologists, one New Jersey licensed nurse, one representative from the Hemophilia Association of New Jersey, and at least three members who are women currently suffering a bleeding disorder or are advocates of such women. The Chair shall be appointed by the Governor from among the public members.
      

3. The Task Force shall:
   

   1. Review current information and data describing the problem of undiagnosed bleeding disorders in women.
      

   2. Define the need for appropriate testing and access to diagnosis and treatment options for women with bleeding disorders.
      

   3. Make recommendations designed to address identified problems and concerns related to bleeding disorders including, but not limited to, education of targeting medical and consumer communities.
      

4. The Task Force is authorized to call upon any department, office, division or agency of this State to supply it with data and other information or assistance that the Task Force deems necessary to discharge its duties under this Order. Each department, office, division or agency of this State is hereby directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate with the Task Force and to furnish it with such information and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order.
   

5. The Task Force shall report to the Governor, not later than one year after the date of its initial meeting, on the Task Force's progress and findings. The work of this Task Force shall be concluded upon completion of the report to the Governor and shall be dissolved thirty (30) days from the date of that report.
   

6. This Order shall take effect immediately.

 

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 7th day of March in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three, and of the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventh. /s/ James E. McGreevey Governor [seal]

Attest:

/s/ Paul P. Josephson

Chief Counsel to the Governor