Brief and appendix for amicus curiae: the American Geriatrics Society

Abstract

In February 1984, the following "friend of the court" (amicus curiae) brief was submitted to the New Jersey Supreme Court by the American Geriatrics Society to assist in the Court's deliberation in the case known as In re Claire C. Conroy. The Board of Directors of the AGS had decided to undertake this endeaver because the reasoning adopted by the Appellate Division in this case would, if affirmed by the Supreme Court, greatly diminish the capacity of physicians to serve their patients, especially their older patients. The brief was prepared by AGS member Joanne Lynn, MD, and was critiqued, revised, and finally approved by all of the members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. A New Jersey attorney, Mr. Charles Deubel, III, filed the brief and the necessary associated papers on behalf of the AGS and without charge. Expenditures by the AGS in this endeavor totalled less than $300. The Editors of the Journal and the Board of Directors of the AGS would welcome comments from the membership and other concerned persons concerning the content of the brief and the process of developing and submitting it.