Chapter I: Health threats

I.-In the event of a serious health threat requiring emergency measures, particularly in the event of a threatened epidemic, the Minister for Health may, by means of a reasoned order, in the interests of public health and for the sole purpose of preventing and limiting the consequences of this threat on the health of the population, prescribe: 1° Any regulatory or individual measure relating to the organisation and operation of…

The appropriateness of the measures taken in application of article L. 3131-1 is periodically reviewed by the Haut Conseil de la santé publique. Such measures shall be terminated immediately if they are no longer necessary.

Notwithstanding the provisions of article L. 1142-1, healthcare professionals may not be held liable for any damage resulting from the prescription or administration of a medicinal product outside the therapeutic indications or normal conditions of use provided for by its marketing authorisation or temporary use authorisation, or of a medicinal product not covered by either of these authorisations, when their intervention was made necessary by the existence of a serious…

Without prejudice to any actions that may be brought in accordance with ordinary law, full compensation for medical accidents, iatrogenic conditions and nosocomial infections attributable to preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic activities carried out in application of measures taken in accordance with articles L. 3131-1 or L. 3134-1 is provided by the Office national d’indemnisation des accidents médicaux, des affections iatrogènes et des infections nosocomiales (National Office for Compensation for Medical…

A fund shall finance the actions required to preserve the health of the population in the event of a serious health threat, in particular those prescribed in article L. 3131-1, as well as the financial compensation to which they may give rise, excluding those provided for by other legislative and regulatory provisions. The conditions for setting up the fund are laid down by the Finance Act or the Social Security…

Each health care institution has a plan detailing the measures to be implemented in the event of an event that disrupts the organisation of care, particularly during exceptional health situations. This plan enables it to mobilise the response resources appropriate to the nature and scale of the event and to ensure that patients receive optimum care. The provisions of this article apply to army hospitals.

If the influx of patients or victims or the health situation so warrants, on a proposal from the director general of the regional health agency, the representative of the State in the département may requisition any goods and services required, and in particular require the services of any health professional, regardless of the type of practice, and of any health or medical-social establishment. Compensation for requisitions is governed by the…

The powers granted to the representative of the State in the département by article L. 3131-8 may be exercised, under the same conditions, by the prefects of the defence zone and by the Prime Minister if this is justified by the nature of the health situation or the scale of the influx of patients or victims. The requisitions provided for in article L. 3131-8 are then issued by order of…

In the event of an exceptional health situation or any event likely to involve a large number of victims, particularly mass casualties, the information strictly necessary to identify the victims and monitor their progress, in particular to cover their healthcare costs, is collected in a unique victim identification system. The health establishments which have taken charge of or received the victims, including within the framework of emergency medical assistance or…

Healthcare professionals, including volunteers, who are required to work with patients or persons exposed to a disaster, emergency or serious health threat, under exceptional practice conditions decided by the Minister for Health as part of the measures provided for in article L. 3131-1, benefit from the provisions of article L. 3133-6.