Liability Protections for Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners and Entities

Public health preparedness has emerged as a major issue in U.S. health policy. The concept of public health preparedness encompasses many facets; one of the most central capabilities in a prepared environment is the ability to rapidly deploy emergency health care responders both during an emergency and in its immediate aftermath. In a post-September 11 society, public officials have redoubled efforts to establish an emergency system capable of a high level of performance during emergencies, particularly in the provision of health care. During an emergency, a state government may need to call upon health care professionals, as well as public and private entities (particularly logistics firms, non-profits, hospitals, laboratories, and vaccine manufacturers) to meet a surge in need.