Beyond Ebola: Environmental, OSHA, and Other Regulatory Issues Creating Business Risks to Healthcare Providers in the Future
The crisis atmosphere surrounding the outbreak of Ebola virus related illness seems to have subsided as the spread of the disease seems to be under control in west Africa and no new cases have been detected in the United States. The host of exposure, risk, regulatory response, legal liability, and practical business issues raised by the treatment in the U.S. of health care workers exposed to the Ebola virus in the U.S. are likely to be repeated when other infectious disease agents result in public concern.
Webinar moderator Mark A. Kadzielski, Pepper partner and national chair of the firm’s Health Care Services practice, and presenters William J. Walsh and Gregory S. Narsh, both of counsel in the firm’s Environment and Energy Practice Group, will address a range of legal and business issues and potential risks in handling infectious outbreaks, including:
- the weaknesses in the regulatory response and company’s responses to such an incident uncovered and lessons from the Ebola outbreak that should not be forgotten;
- how each outbreak involves government agencies providing advice on methods of protecting health care workers and waste cleanup workers;
- the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory scheme for products that claim to reduce or eliminate the spread of microorganisms, the advertising claims for such products, and how it impacts health care facilities and workers;
- how employers should navigate and implement OSHA regulations regarding workers handling infectious waste to avoid potential legal risks; and
- what rights and responsibilities employers have, regarding issues raised by the Americans with Disabilities Act and National Labor Relations Act and whether an illness can be a regulated disability.
The presenters will share their expert opinions on these topics and will also be available to answer questions during the webinar Q&A session.
CLE credit available in CA, NY, PA, VA (pending), NJ (credit available through reciprocity).
Content contributed by attorneys of Troutman Sanders LLP and Pepper Hamilton LLP prior to April 1, 2020, is included here, together with content contributed by attorneys of Troutman Pepper (the combined entity) after the merger date.