Society Supports Good Samaritan Health Professional Act of 2021
Last week, the Society, through our membership in the Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA), supported the Good Samaritan Health Professional Act of 2021, championed by Sens. Bill Cassidy, MD (R) and Angus King (I) and Reps. Raul Ruiz, MD (D) and Larry Bucshon, MD (R). This legislation offers health professionals providing voluntary care in response to a federally declared disaster with medical liability protections. While federal and state laws are intended to protect volunteer health professionals from unwarranted lawsuits, there are many inconsistencies, which may leave physicians vulnerable. The bill helps to correct these problems by applying the same volunteer protections from the CARES Act to volunteers responding to future disasters or public health emergencies.
“Providing these needed civil liability protections to licensed health care professionals who volunteer their time and skills to treat disaster victims will help ensure medical care is available in future emergencies. Doing so now, before the next event occurs, will also save valuable time in getting care where it is needed most,” the letter of support stated.