Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 27. CIVIL LIABILITY, REMEDIES, AND LIMITATIONS

CHAPTER 1. AVAILABILITY OF REMEDIES -- LIABILITY

Part 16. Covid-19 Liability

Liability Of Health Care Providers

27-1-1604. (Temporary) Liability of health care providers. A health care provider is not liable for civil damages for causing or contributing, directly or indirectly, to the death or injury of an individual as a result of the health care provider's acts or omissions while providing or arranging health care in support of the response to covid-19 unless the health care provider caused the death or injury of an individual through an act or omission that constitutes gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, or an intentional tort. This section applies to:

(1) injury or death resulting from screening, assessing, diagnosing, caring for, or treating individuals with a suspected or confirmed case of covid-19;

(2) prescribing, administering, or dispensing a pharmaceutical for off-label use to treat a patient with a suspected or confirmed case of covid-19;

(3) acts or omissions while providing health care to individuals with a condition unrelated to covid-19 when those acts or omissions support the response to covid-19, including the following:

(a) delaying or canceling nonurgent or elective dental, medical, or surgical procedures or altering the diagnosis or treatment of an individual in response to a federal or state statute, regulation, order, or public health guidance;

(b) diagnosing or treating patients outside the normal scope of the health care provider's license or practice;

(c) using medical devices, equipment, or supplies outside of their normal use for the provision of health care, including using or modifying medical devices, equipment, or supplies for an unapproved use;

(d) conducting tests or providing treatment to an individual outside the premises of a health care facility;

(e) acts or omissions undertaken by a health care provider because of a lack of staffing, facilities, medical devices, equipment, supplies, or other resources attributable to covid-19 that renders the health care provider unable to provide the level or manner of care to a person that otherwise would have been required in the absence of covid-19; or

(f) acts or omissions undertaken by a health care provider relating to the use or nonuse of personal protective equipment. (Terminates January 1, 2031--sec. 15, Ch. 2, L. 2021.)

History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 2, L. 2021.