MSDC, Local Health Associations Push Council on Liability Protections April 29, 2020

On Tuesday, a coalition of DC healthcare associations joined together to push the Council to pass additional liability protections for healthcare workers in the next COVID-19 legislation.

The letter, seen here, asks the Council to include language that protects healthcare workers and employers from medical liability for decisions based on the public health emergency. This includes decisions made due to lack of PPE, stay at home guidance, and the delay of non-emergency procedures. The letter was signed by MSDC, the DC Hospital Association, the DC Primary Care Association, DC Behavioral Health Association, DC Health Care Association, and Leading Age DC.

The letter was sent in tandem with an action alert from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) DC Section asking its members to contact the Council on medical liability protections. 

MSDC has consistently advocated before the Council and Bowser Administration on the need to protect physicians from medical liability except in cases of gross negligence. MSDC feels strongly that physicians following public health guidance during the public health emergency should not be exposed to financial liability if they are making medically sound decisions balanced with following government guidance. The Council has passed strong protections for medical treatment for COVID-19, but there is still a large gap for treatments that support reducing COVID-19 exposure.