Letter from MDAdvantage® Chairman and CEO Patricia A. Costante
Welcome to the first issue of 2021 – an issue focused on medical ethics. While medical ethics has always been a significant area of interest for our Editorial Board, the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly brought a number of important ethical issues to the forefront of our collective minds. Issues that suddenly moved from theoretical to real included scarce resource allocation, mandatory vaccinations, the triage and prioritization of patient treatment, mistrust of government and science, the professional responsibilities of healthcare providers who are putting themselves at risk, and the maintenance of patient confidentiality during a public health crisis, to name just a few. We explore many of these topics in this issue, and will continue to cover these and additional topics throughout the coming year.
In the midst of the pandemic, it seems even more important than ever to acknowledge the accomplishments of our healthcare leaders. While this year’s EJI Excellence in Medicine Awards program will be different than our traditional annual black-tie event, the meaning behind these honors has certainly not been lost. I invite all of you to participate in the 2021 awards program in support of our latest slate of ten scholarship students. For more information on the EJI Excellence in Medicine Awards, visit www.EJIawards.org.
Sincerely,
Chairman & CEO
MDAdvantage Insurance Company
Table of Contents
News & Acknowledgements
CME Update
Reviewing Medical Ethics and Understanding Civil/Criminal Immunity During the Pandemic July 2021
On June 4, 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law P.L. 2021, c.104 (A 5820), which terminates the Governor’s COVID-19 public health emergency and most of the executive orders accompanying it 30 days after the effective date, except for a list of executive orders that includes EO No 112.
This law phases out by the end of this year civil liability protections previously provided by state law, regulation, and directive for healthcare professionals, healthcare facilities, healthcare systems, modular field treatment facilities, and other temporary healthcare facilities that were approved to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conduct relating to healthcare professionals, facilities, or systems occurring prior to September 1, 2021, will retain civil or criminal liability protections provided by E.O. No. 112, P.L. 2020, c.18, or Directive No. 20-006. Additionally, civil and criminal immunity given to health care professionals and facilities, including long-term care facilities, and existing waivers of regulations involving staffing ratios, overtime, shifts, and vacation time will expire on September 1, 2021. Civil immunity for health care professionals shall continue beyond September 1, 2021, only for individuals specifically engaged in vaccinations or testing related to COVID-19.
Peer Reviewer Acknowledgements
The Editorial Board would like to acknowledge the following individuals who served as peer reviewers of manuscripts submitted to MDAdvisor in the past year, as well as those reviewers who prefer to remain anonymous. Our reviewers are an important part of the selection process and provide our authors with valuable insights. We gratefully acknowledge their comments and contributions.
- Hon. Paul W. Armstrong, JSC (Ret.)
- Robert Borzio, MD
- Margaret A. Chipowsky, Esq.
- DanaLynn Colao, Esq.
- Gregory J. Giordano, Esq.
- Jim Guglielmelli
- Paul J. Hirsch, MD
- David Kountz, MD, MBA
- Robert G. Lahita, MD, PhD
- Kimberly A. Mrvica, Esq.
- Tom Powers
- Christian Toledo
For information about volunteering to review content for MDAdvisor in your area of expertise, contact us at Editor@MDAdvisorNJ.com.
Material published in MDAdvisor represents only the opinions of the authors and does not reflect those of the editors, MDAdvantage Holdings, Inc., MDAdvantage Insurance Company and any affiliated companies (all as “MDAdvantage®”), their directors, officers or employees or the institutions with which the author is affiliated. Furthermore, no express or implied warranty or any representation of suitability of this published material is made by the editors, MDAdvantage®, their directors, officers or employees or institutions affiliated with the authors.
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Letters to the editor are subject to editing and abridgment.
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