By Susan Jaffe | Kaiser Health News | May 14, 2020 | This story also ran on
Coronavirus patients and their families who believe a doctor, nurse, hospital or other provider made serious mistakes during their care may face a new hurdle if they try to file medical malpractice lawsuits.
Under pressure from health provider organizations, governors in Connecticut, Maryland, Illinois and several other states have ordered that most providers be shielded from civil ― and, in some cases, criminal— lawsuits over medical treatment during the C OVID-19 health emergency. In New York and New Jersey, immunity is now part of state law….
Some legal experts and seniors’ advocates worry that the state immunity guarantees go too far, leaving patients with no way to hold providers accountable. Supporters argue that health care providers and facilities deserve protection from lawsuits as they battle a deadly virus during an unprecedented public health emergency. [Continued atKaiser Health News and Daily Beast. ]
