Shiawassee Times

After Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed legislation that would offer protection from excessive lawsuits for frontline and health care workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Ben Frederick issued a statement discussing the matter.

“I am deeply disappointed in the governor’s decision to veto a measure that would have provided critical legal protections for health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan," Frederick said, according to Michigan House Republicans. 

Many of these frontline workers have been working in dangerous situations.

Rep. Ben Frederick | Michigan House Republicans

“Doctors and other health care professionals have been forced to make incredibly difficult decisions while caring for patients under strained circumstances due to the coronavirus," Frederick told Michigan House Republicans. "The plan vetoed by the governor this week would have protected them from unwarranted COVID-19 lawsuits, ensuring they can focus their time and energy on providing the best care possible to patients."

The legislation Whitmer rejected could have provided protection to not only the workers, but patients as well. 

“The measure also protected patients by ensuring that medical personnel would continue to be held liable in cases of willful misconduct, gross negligence or intentional infliction of harm," Frederick said, according to Michigan House Republicans.

The legislation in question considered liability protections that Whitmer had kept in executive orders, but she still vetoed the bill. 

“This legislation closely reflected the medical liability protections the governor previously included in her executive orders, which she rescinded on July 13, while also extending those protections to the beginning of this unfolding situation and throughout the pandemic," Frederick told Michigan House Republicans. “This veto is completely unwarranted as we look to show support for our frontline heroes.”