The SCA Board of Directors seeks commentary on a proposal to eliminate the official Office of the Chirurgeonate, and the associated changes to Corpora necessary to accomplish this action.

The Office of the Society Chirurgeon has been providing exemplary service to the Society since 1986. The Society and Board of Directors are tremendously grateful for the sterling service the Office of the Society Chirurgeon has provided over the years, and hope to continue to allow licensed first aid providers to provide such service, while needing to take into account the realities of the climate in which the SCA currently operates.

The Board of Directors has been advised by its outside counsel, as well as by its insurance company, that having officers of the Corporation acting as emergency services providers and warranting them as official Chirurgeons represents an unacceptable assumption of liability by the Corporation for the actions of these individuals. The SCA can allow individual medical professionals to provide emergency care under their own licenses and the various Good Samaritan laws. Such services can also be provided by professional emergency services organizations and companies that provide such services. However, having corporate officers and warranted officials do so represents an unacceptable risk according to both our outside counsel and our insurance company.

(more…)