Faculty Collaboration Database

Understanding Liability Risks and Protections for Pediatric Providers During Disasters. Pediatrics 2019 Mar;143(3)

Date

02/26/2019

Pubmed ID

30804075

DOI

10.1542/peds.2018-3893

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85062766377 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   5 Citations

Abstract

Although most health care providers will go through their careers without experiencing a major disaster in their local communities, if one does occur, it can be life and career altering. The American Academy of Pediatrics has been in the forefront of providing education and advocacy on the critical importance of disaster preparedness. From experiences over the past decade, new evidence and analysis have broadened our understanding that the concept of preparedness is also applicable to addressing the unique professional liability risks that can occur when caring for patients and families during a disaster. Concepts explored in this technical report will help to inform pediatric health care providers, advocates, and policy makers about the complexities of how providers are currently protected, with a focus on areas of unappreciated liability. The timeliness of this technical report is emphasized by the fact that during the time of its development (ie, late summer and early fall of 2017), the United States went through an extraordinary period of multiple, successive, and overlapping disasters within a concentrated period of time of both natural and man-made causes. In a companion policy statement (www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2018-3892), recommendations are offered on how individuals, institutions, and governments can work together to strengthen the system of liability protections during disasters so that appropriate and timely care can be delivered with minimal fear of legal reprisal or confusion.

Author List

Altman RL, Santucci KA, Anderson MR, McDonnell WM, COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL LIABILITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Author

Sandeep K. Narang MD, JD Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Disaster Planning
Disasters
Humans
Liability, Legal
Pediatrics
Physicians
Risk Factors
United States