Things Change During an Emergency

Doctors can’t be sued for their mistakes during a public health emergency, even if the mistake ends up killing you.

- Lee Aronson

Here’s the specific Louisiana law: “During a state of public health emergency, any health care providers shall not be…liable for causing the death of or injury to any person…except in the event of gross negligence or willful misconduct.”

Let’s say the Louisiana Governor has declared a state of public emergency and Superman slips on some train tracks and breaks his back. He needs surgery, and Lex Luthor turns out to be the surgeon. Because surgeon Luthor considers Superman to be his arch-enemy, Luthor quickly comes up with a diabolical plan: Lex intentionally botches the operation so that Superman can never walk again. Is Lex liable? You better believe it; that’s “willful misconduct.”