Tennessee Doctors & Healthcare Providers Immune from COVID Lawsuits

By Gilreath & Associates

Unlike many of us, COVID-19 isn’t taking a summer break. Hospitals nationwide saw a spike in cases after Memorial Day weekend and vigorously prepared for another rise after the Fourth of July.

With new and ongoing cases continuing to fill hospitals and emergency rooms, the concern for the safety of those nurses and doctors has also grown. This has prompted 1 Tennessee lawmaker to act by extending civil liability protection to doctors, nurses, assisted living and other healthcare providers against COVID-19 lawsuits.

Governor Bill Lee signed the executive order on July 1, 2020, announcing at his afternoon briefing that “this order provides limited liability protection, with respect to the services they render that are not considered gross negligence or willful misconduct.”

He also intends to call upon a special session in the future to encourage the U.S. Senate to take the same measures but on a broader scale, offering protection not only to healthcare workers but schools and some businesses as well.

Gov. Lee has urged Tennesseans to take the matter seriously and do as much as they can to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by following the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such as washing hands, wearing masks and staying home if anyone in the household is running a high temperature.

“We have a significant public health crisis. There are people dying every day in our state,” said Gov. Lee.

Are you suffering from medical malpractice?

Even though healthcare providers and doctors may not be sued for malpractice related to COVID-19 thanks to this new executive order, they can still be held liable for negligence in many other areas of medical practice.

Common examples of medical malpractice include:

• Failure to properly diagnose a medical condition
• Failure to provide timely and proper treatment
• Prescription errors
• Failure to perform surgical techniques correctly
• Failure to monitor a patient after surgery
• Mistakes in the administration of anesthesia
• Failure of nursing staff to provide proper care

Any patient who suffers from one of these can sue for medical malpractice. But in order to have a firm case, they must provide proof of negligence. This is a crucial part of any case. Unfortunately, the burden of proof falls to the victim.

If you or a loved one believe that you are suffering from medical malpractice and want to discuss your options with an attorney, our legal professionals are standing by. At Gilreath & Associates, our experience, compassion and commitment to our clients are what sets us apart.

Call one of our representatives today for your free initial consultation. One of our attorneys will create a roadmap of what to expect if you decide to file a case. We’ll get you the best results possible to help compensate for your pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages and more.

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