Abdel-Monem Tarik, Bulling Denise
University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.
Behav Sci Law. 2005;23(4):573-90. doi: 10.1002/bsl.651.
Qualified immunity from civil liability exists for acts of disaster mental health (DMH) practitioners responding to disasters or acts of terrorism. This article reviews current legal regimens dictating civil liability for potentially wrongful acts of DMH professionals and volunteers responding to disasters. Criteria are proposed to inform determinations of civil liability for DMH workers in disaster response, given current legal parameters and established tort law in relevant areas. Specific considerations are examined that potentially implicate direct liability of DMH professionals and volunteers, and vicarious liability of DMH supervisors for actions of volunteer subordinates. The relevance of pre-event DMH planning and operationalization of the plan post-event is linked to considerations of liability. This article concludes with recommendations to minimize liability exposure for DMH workers in response efforts.
应对灾难或恐怖主义行为的灾难心理健康（DMH）从业者享有民事责任豁免权。本文回顾了当前规定DMH专业人员和志愿者在应对灾难时可能的不当行为的民事责任的法律制度。鉴于当前的法律参数和相关领域既定的侵权法，提出了一些标准，以为确定DMH工作人员在灾难应对中的民事责任提供参考。研究了一些具体因素，这些因素可能涉及DMH专业人员和志愿者的直接责任，以及DMH主管对志愿者下属行为的替代责任。事件前DMH规划与事件后计划的实施与责任考量相关联。本文最后提出了一些建议，以尽量减少DMH工作人员在应对工作中的责任风险。
