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Abstract: The need for volunteer health professionals (VHPs) (e.g., physicians, nurses, public health workers, emergency medical responders) during emergencies is unquestioned. During the states of emergency declared in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast region, federal, state, county, and city officials and private sector entities worked extensively to address major gaps in the delivery of health care and public health services in New Orleans and elsewhere. They relied particularly on VHPs. However, a series of legal and regulatory questions affected the deployment of VHPs in the Gulf Coast region and, in some cases, inhibited more extensive use of their services. What constitutes an “emergency” sufficient for the initiation of volunteer efforts, when and how is it declared, and what are the legal and practical ramifications of such declarations? When may VHPs who are licensed or certified in one state legally practice their profession in another state? When may VHPs face civil liability for their actions in response to public health emergencies? Who will compensate them for the injuries or other harms they may incur? This article examines the legal environment for VHPs during emergencies and the significant legal challenges related to Gulf Coast hurricane-related emergencies.
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