RS 40:1275.1: Statement of purpose

The legislature hereby declares that severe head injuries represent one of the greatest public health problems in the United States because of the frequency and potential for causing lifelong disability. The legislature further recognizes that such injuries are not randomly occurring events and traditional public health approaches to preventing diseases may be applied successfully to preventing injuries as well. Recognizing that a rational approach toward preventing serious public health problems cannot be accomplished without data to document and monitor their occurrence, the legislature hereby provides for the establishment of systematic data collection on severe head injuries by instituting a mandatory reporting requirement for severe head injuries.