Fatality review teams and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
The legislative framework created by AB192 will enable the Department of Health Services (DHS) to oversee the establishment and functioning of these teams, which can be formed by local governments and health departments. It mandates that DHS facilitate team development, offer training resources, and provide technical assistance. The confidentiality of the reviews is emphasized through provisions that protect the records from public scrutiny, aiming to encourage honest and open discussions within the teams regarding the circumstances leading to preventable deaths. Members of the review teams and participants are granted immunity from civil liability for actions undertaken in good faith during the reviews.
AB192 establishes formal fatality review teams in Wisconsin aimed at addressing preventable deaths through systematic reviews. Currently, fatality reviews are conducted sporadically and largely depend on voluntary participation from counties. This bill seeks to standardize their operations, define their roles, and create authority under state law for these teams to develop actionable recommendations for preventing similar incidences in the future. The legislation's scope includes various types of reviewable deaths, such as suicides, overdoses, and maternal deaths within a year of pregnancy, as well as unintentional deaths of children.
While supporters argue that formalizing fatality review teams will enhance life-saving efforts by collecting pertinent data and identifying systemic issues, opponents may raise concerns regarding the implications of confidentiality. The bill could face questions regarding the balance between operational transparency and the necessary confidentiality required for open discussions among team members. Another point of contention may arise from the resources allocated for effective execution, needing cross-agency collaboration while managing the interplay between local agencies and state authorities in addressing preventable deaths effectively.