Ala. Code § 6-5-660 Short Title
6-5-660. Short Title
This article shall be called the “Volunteer Medical Professional Act.”
(Act 2000-680, p. 1383, §2.)
Volunteer Medical Professional Act.
Ala. Code tit. 6, ch. 5, art. 34
in effectAla. Code § 6-5-661 Legislative Findings.
6-5-661. Legislative Findings.
The Legislature finds that the willingness of medical professionals to volunteer their services has been increasingly deterred by a perception that they put personal assets at risk in the event of tort actions seeking damages arising from their activities as volunteers.
The Legislature further finds that volunteer medical professionals and free medical clinics make a valuable contribution to the health and welfare of the people of the state and that it is in the state’s best interest to encourage medical professionals to volunteer their services for the good of their communities, while at the same time providing a reasonable basis for redress of claims which may arise relating to those activities.
(Act 2000-680, p. 1383, §3.)
Ala. Code § 6-5-662 Definitions.
6-5-662. Definitions.
For purposes of this article, the following words shall have the following meanings:
(1) ESTABLISHED FREE MEDICAL CLINIC. An organized community-based program providing medical care, without charge to individuals unable to pay for it, and which is limited to care that does not require the services of a licensed hospital or ambulatory surgical center, and care that does not include the use of general anesthesia or require an overnight stay in a health care facility.
(2) MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. A person licensed by the Alabama Medical Licensure Commission established under Section 34-24-310, or licensed to practice the treatment of human ailments in any other state or territory of the United States; or a person licensed by the Alabama Board of Nursing established under Section 34-21-2; or a person licensed by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners established under Section 34-24-140; or a person licensed by the Alabama Board of Optometry established under Section 34-22-20; or a person licensed by the Board of Dental Examiners established under Sections 34-9-1 to 34-9-65, inclusive. Medical professional shall not include medical students, interns, or residents while they are completing training necessary for a medical license or certification as a specialist in a particular medical field.
(Act 2000-680, p. 1383, §4.)
Ala. Code § 6-5-663 Liability of Volunteer Medical Professionals.
6-5-663. Liability of Volunteer Medical Professionals.
(a) A medical professional who, in good faith, provides, without fee or compensation, medical treatment, diagnosis, advice, or nursing services as a part of the services of an established free medical clinic, shall not be liable for civil damages as a result of his or her acts or omissions in providing the medical treatment, diagnosis, advice, or nursing services, unless the act or omission was the result of the licensed healthcare provider’s willful or wanton misconduct.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a particular case unless the free medical clinic has posted in a conspicuous place on its premises an explanation of the immunity from civil liability provided by this article.
(c) The immunity from civil liability provided under subsection (a) also applies to medical professionals who provide, without fee or compensation, further medical treatment, diagnosis, advice, or nursing services to a patient upon referral from an established free medical clinic.
(d) Acceptance by a free medical clinic of a contribution made by a person receiving services at the clinic shall not constitute a waiver of immunity as provided in this article.
(e) In any suit against a free medical clinic for civil damages based upon the negligent act or omission of a volunteer medical professional, proof of such act or omission shall not be sufficient to establish the responsibility of the clinic under the doctrine of “respondeat superior,” notwithstanding the immunity granted to the volunteer medical professional with respect to any act or omission included under subsection (a), unless such act or omission is found to be willful or wanton.
(Act 2000-680, p. 1383, §5.)
Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026