S. 781

Referred to Committee

Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017

Introduced 3/30/2017•115th Congress•Senate

Congress.gov

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

3/30/2017 • Senate

Summary

Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to shield a health care professional from liability under federal or state law for harm caused by any act or omission if: (1) the professional is serving as a volunteer in response to a disaster; and (2) the act or omission occurs during the period of the disaster, in the professional's capacity as a volunteer, and in a good faith belief that the individual being treated is in need of health care services.

This protection from liability does not apply if: (1) the harm was caused by an act or omission constituting willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed; or (2) the professional rendered the health care services under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating drug.

Introduced in Senate • 3/30/2017

Enter your district to see how this bill affects your community

Topics & Subjects

Policy Area: Health

Civil actions and liabilityDisaster relief and insuranceEmergency medical services and trauma careEvidence and witnessesFederal preemptionHealth care qualityHealth personnelLicensing and registrationsSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizations