Legislative Wins

PAs for Women Empowerment has been active and pushing for change every year since it’s formation. We have successfully introduced or amended policies that are in the AAPA Policy Manual.

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AAPA encourages the incorporation of education on the recognition of symptoms and treatment
guidelines of button battery/coin ingestion to current curriculum of PA programs and continuing medical
education for practicing PAs.
[Adopted 2022]

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AAPA encourages PA programs to define, make public, and consistently apply when appropriate, leave
policies, including but not limited to pregnancy-related and parental leave policy for prospective and
current students. This policy should be inclusive regardless of gender identity or family composition, and
considers adoption, surrogacy, and pregnancy-related complications.
[Adopted 2023]

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PAs (1) advocate the appropriate placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs); (2) support
increasing government and industry funding for the purchase of AED devices; (3) encourage the
American public to become trained in CPR and the use of AEDs; (4) advocate for legislation to be passed
to provide immunity from liability for those who, in good faith, and without expectation of compensation,
provide and use AEDs in emergency situations; (5) advocate for legislation to be passed in all states that
AEDs be required in all schools and recommend AEDs be available within three minutes to all youth
sporting events and practices; and (6) support requirement of all youth sporting organizations to mandate
an emergency action plan including recommending proper training in CPR and the use of AEDs for at
least one identified trained person present at all times.
[Adopted 2008, reaffirmed 2013, 2018, 2023, amended 2024]

Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the PA Profession
(Adopted 2000, reaffirmed 2013, 2023, amended 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2018, 2024)

Online Conduct for Physician Associates (PAs)
PAs should maintain the same level of ethical conduct online as is expected in the workplace
[when representing themselves as PAs]. It is important for PAs to remember their actions online may
impact their reputation with patients and colleagues, as well as have consequences for their medical
careers.
In the digital world, where interactions can quickly reach a wide audience, PAs are responsible
for maintaining behavior that reflects respect, empathy and ethical standards expected of healthcare
professionals. By adhering to these guidelines, PAs ensure that their online presence aligns with the
dignity of the profession and the trust placed in them by patients and their colleagues.
All PAs shall refrain from engaging in or endorsing any communication that disparages any
group based on characteristic such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or
other characteristic.