The Committee for Disaster Medicine Reform was created to seek disaster medicine reforms and to help pass state legislation during the regular Louisiana legislative session of 2008 that would:

1) Aid future patients in need of healthcare during declared disasters;
2) Insure physician's ability to exercise clinical judgment during disasters;
3) Encourage the employment of physicians and nurses to serve in disaster areas; and
4) Enhance recruitment of physicians and nurses from outside of disaster areas to volunteer service during such disasters.

Reform measures passed in Louisiana where a disaster has already occurred, could be used as a model for other states.

The committee is a grassroots, citizen-funded independent organization, unaffiliated with but working in concert with other groups such as LSMS and the Louisiana Nurses Association and with concerned citizens, physicians and nurses statewide to bring about these badly needed changes in state law. The work of the Committee relates only to medical care during federal or state declared emergencies and is designed to offer protections to patients and doctors and nurses without taking away the legal right of the prosecutors to pursue criminal charges if evidence requires.

Committee Members List

Join the Committee and show your support here!