Expanded portfolio

GOSHEN — Orange County Commissioner of Health Eli N. Avila has been appointed by the president of the New York State Bar Association to sit on the Committee on Mass Disaster Response.

“As a medical doctor and an attorney, Dr. Avila brings a unique and important perspective to this committee,” County Executive Edward Diana said in his press release announcing Avila’s appointments. “Here in Orange County we have a demonstrated commitment to public safety, public health and emergency response, Dr. Avila will be able to share our experiences and expertise on a state level and gather useful insight and information from others throughout the state.”

The state bar association’s special committee on mass disaster response was established 1997 to set forth guidelines for the appropriate manner of response to victims, the public and the media in the event of a mass disaster.

In order to lessen the suffering for victims of mass disasters, the goals of the response plan are:

To inform victims of a disaster and their families as to how the legal system functions to resolve disputes which arise out of mass disaster

To monitor the conduct of attorneys at a disaster site;

To make victims of a disaster, their families and the public aware that personal solicitation of clients by attorneys, at the site of a disaster, is unethical; and

To advise those who require legal assistance how to make an informed selection of an attorney.

Avila also serves on the association’s sub-committee on public health law which reviews and comments on public health legal issues affecting New York State residents, as well as New York State bills on public health.

“What happens at a state level has a direct effect on our residents of Orange County,” Avila said, “so it’s critically important that we stay informed and in the loop.”