Maryland's attorney general has issued an opinion that found that the governor has the authority to ration life-saving ventilators if a flu epidemic hit Maryland.
The Baltimore Sun reported Attorney General Brian Frosh found the Catastrophic Health Emergencies Act of 2002 gives the governor the power to declare a public health emergency, and hospitals would rely on criteria to allocate the resources.
The criteria don't exist yet. It's unclear when they will be finished.
Del. Terri Hill, of Howard County, who requested the attorney general's opinion on the governor's powers, said there is a need for a state plan on the issue.
Various institutions, including John Hopkins University, have held public meetings to gather input should an epidemic arise that would require distributing ventilators.
