On April 2, 2021, Pamela S. Karlan, the Principal Deputy
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department
of Justice Civil Rights Division (DOJ), issued a public statement regarding the Division's
intent to lead a coordinated civil rights response to the
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The statement, which attached a
resource guide, is intended to assist Federal agencies, state and
local governments, and recipients of Federal funds, including
healthcare providers, in addressing ongoing civil rights challenges
related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement advised healthcare providers and long-term care
facilities (LTCs), among other entities, that the DOJ intends to
"vigorously enforce Federal civil rights," and that civil
rights obligations still apply during emergencies like the COVID-19
pandemic. The statement addressed the need to combat disability
discrimination by ensuring that all people with disabilities have
equal access to healthcare.
