On the recordJune 22, 2010
The need for this legislation could not be more evident. Despite advances in medical technology and research, men continue to live an average of more than 5 years less than women, and African American men have the lowest life expectancy of all groups. Further, 9 out of the 10 leading causes of death, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affect men at a higher percentage rate than women. Men simply are not getting the care they need. Women are twice as likely as men to visit the doctor for annual examinations and preventive services. By the way, the research shows that most men who are the beneficiaries of early diagnosis and treatment with regard to many, many diseases have been urged to go to the doctor by a woman in their life, a significant other, a sister, a wife. But women are quite often the ones who also make the decisions for the family and sometimes drag us men to the doctor's office kicking and screaming.
