Washington, D.C., August 26, 2005 - The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) has issued the following statement:

"The AAMC recommends that medical schools require criminal background checks on all accepted applicants. The association believes taking this action will enhance patient health and safety, facilitate student access to affiliated clinical facilities, ensure eligibility for licensure, and guarantee school involvement in decisions about the content and process of these checks.

This endorsement is the first step in what will likely be a multi-year planning and implementation process. The AAMC advises schools to examine their own traditions, current experience with employee (and, when applicable, student) background checks, and local laws and regulations to help them draft policies and procedures appropriate for their institutions. In the coming months, this school-specific information will be analyzed by a broader segment of the medical education community in order to explore developing a national system for conducting criminal background checks."

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The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 129 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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