Position Statements

The AAN has developed position statements on a variety of issues to help guide your decision-making, and the AAN is committed to creating position statements specific to neurology.

Brain Health

These documents were sponsored by the Brain Health Committee.

• AAN Position Statement on Brain Health (2023)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

These documents were sponsored by the AAN Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Joint Coordinating Council.

• Position Statement on Systemic Racism and Inequities in Society (2020)

Ethics

These documents were sponsored by the Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee.

• Brain Death, the Determination of Brain Death, and Member Guidance for Brain Death Accommodation Requests (2019)
• Brain Death Determination (2018)
• Clinical Guidance in Neuropalliative Care (2022)
• Consent Issues in the Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke (2022)
• The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Ethical Duties of the Neurologist (2020)
• Decisions With Patients and Families Regarding Aducanumab in Alzheimer's Disease (2021)
• Ethical Considerations in Dementia Diagnosis and Care (2021)
• Ethical Issues in Clinical Research in Neurology (2020)
• Ethical Perspectives on Costly Drugs and Health Care (2021)
• Humanistic Dimensions of Professionalism in the Practice of Neurology (Reaffirmed 2019)
• Lawful Physician-Hastened Death (2018)
• Responding to Requests from Adult Patients for Neuroenhancements (2013)
• Sports Concussion: Legal and Ethical Implications (2014)
• The Use of Neck Restraints in Law Enforcement (2020)
• Use of Social Media in Health Care—Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Considerations (2021)

Public Policy

These documents were sponsored by the Advocacy Committee.

• AAN Principles for Health Care Delivery (Updated 2024)
• Diagnostic Electromyography is the Practice of Medicine (Reaffirmed 2024)
• Excited Delirium (2024)
• Medical Cannabis (2020)
• Opioids (2018)
• Prescription Drug Prices (Updated 2024)
• Securing the Necessary Neurological Care for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury and Other Forms of Brain Injury (2019)
• Sports Concussion: Policy Implications (2020)
• Stroke Care (2020)
• Telehealth (2021)

Practice

These documents were sponsored by other AAN committees.

• AAN Position Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination (2021)

• Availability of Disease Modifying Therapies (DMT) for Treatment of Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis (2015)
• Definition of Neurology Subspecialty (2012)
• Neurology Advanced Practice Providers (2020)
• On-Call Reimbursement for Neurologists (2019)
• Opioids for Chronic Noncancer Pain(2014)

Endorsed by the AAN

These documents were developed by outside organizations and endorsed by the AAN.

• AMA Principles for Augmented Intelligence Development, Deployment, and Use (2023)
• AMA Prior Authorization and Utilization Management Reform Principles (2017)
• Coalition Statement in Support of Research Using Human Fetal Tissue (2021)
• Consensus Recommendations to Support Stroke Systems of Care in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Settings (2021)
• Daylight Saving Time: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Statement (2020)
• Firearm-Related Injury and Death in the United States: A Call to Action from the Nation's Leading Physician and Public Health Professional Organizations (2019)
• Policy Recommendations for Addressing Racism and Discrimination in Law Enforcement (2021)
• Sleep is Essential to Health: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Statement (2021)

Interested in proposing a new position statement? Contact advocacy@aan.com for more information.