Bill offers physician volunteers a liability shield

The measure would ensure greater access to care in community health centers, sponsors say.

By Mike Norbut, AMNews staff. June 13, 2005.

Physicians who volunteer in community health centers would be able to work without the fear of litigation under bipartisan legislation recently introduced on Capitol Hill.

The measure, which has earned the backing of several physician groups and health organizations, would extend medical liability protection to doctors who are offering their services as charity. It would help ease access-to-care problems for uninsured and underinsured patients around the country, its sponsors said.

Currently, recruiting at community health centers is challenging because it's difficult to convince physicians to volunteer if they know they risk facing a liability lawsuit or have to pay out of their own pockets for insurance, legislators said.

"We are fortunate to live in a country where people are willing to volunteer their medical expertise to those who can't afford the medical care they need," said Sen. Rick Santorum (R, Pa.), who sponsored the bill along with Sen. Ron Wyden (D, Ore.). The House version was introduced by Rep. Tim Murphy (R, Pa.) in March.

"The last people we want to deter from contributing their services are volunteers. The hope is that this bill will encourage others to volunteer their services," Santorum said.