Today Sen. Lisa Murkowski is introducing the Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act which comes four days after the 50th anniversary of Alaska’s Good Friday earthquake.
Murkowski says this the bill is to protect volunteer health care providers assisting in disaster areas from civil liability when providing care outside their home community to victims, allowing health professionals to use their medical liability insurance across state lines when volunteering after a serious disaster.
Murkowski Spokesman Matthew Felling highlights more.
Felling: “Whenever you see in a movie, somebody says in an airplane or a movie theater, ‘is there a doctor on this flight? Is there a doctor in the house?’ Those movies end up being in black and white because if those doctors were to step forward now, if they did anything wrong whatsoever and they were outside their jurisdiction and tried to administer some kind of help, they could be up for some legal liability.”
Felling went on to say that the importance of helping one another during trying times has always been recognized, especially in Alaska.
Felling: “If you come to Alaska to help us with an earthquake, to help us with volcano, to help us with a tsunami, you’re good. We’re not going to put you in a position where if you accidentally inflict physical harm that you are attempting to save or deliver care to, you’re going to be fine.”
The Greater Fairbanks Hospital Foundation lauded Murkowski saying “thank you for taking charge on this issue and introducing the Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2014”.
