To: The Vermont State House and The Vermont State Senate

Excess Death Prevention Study

The purpose of this petition is to require the Vermont Legislature to conduct an annual study to determine the number of excess deaths and therapeutic misadventures that occur in Vermont to include proposals to prevent this loss of life. Excess deaths occur due to the lack of health care. Theraputic misadventures are medical accidents that ocurr during treatment. A detailed report of the study must be made available to the public and posted on the state web site.

Why is this important?

Harvard study finds nearly 45,000 excess deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage. 60 excess deaths ocur in Vermont.
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/septemb/harvard_study_finds_.php
The study found a 40 percent increased risk of death among the uninsured.