CHAPTER 432
2000-S 2485A
Enacted 7/20/2000


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RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - - EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

Introduced By:  Senators Igliozzi, Felag and McDonald

Date Introduced:  February 9, 2000

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 23-4.1-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-4.1 entitled "Emergency Medical Transportation Services" is hereby amended to read as follows:

23-4.1-12. Immunity from liability. -- (a) No person, licensed and authorized pursuant to this chapter or rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter, shall be liable for any civil damages for any act or omission in connection with emergency medical services (EMS) training or in connection with services rendered outside a hospital, unless the act or omission is inconsistent with the level and scope of the person's training and experience and unless the act or omission was the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(b) No agency, organization, institution, corporation, or entity of state or local government that sponsors, authorizes, supports, finances, or supervises the functions of emergency medical services personnel licensed and authorized pursuant to this chapter, including advanced life support personnel, shall be liable for any civil damages for any act or omission in connection with sponsorship, authorization, support, finance, or supervision of those emergency medical services personnel, where the act or omission occurs in connection with EMS training or with services rendered outside a hospital, unless the act or omission is inconsistent with the level and scope of the training of the emergency medical services personnel and unless the act or omission was the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(c) No principal, agent, contractor, employee, or representative of an agency, organization, institution, corporation, or entity of state or local government that sponsors, authorizes, supports, finances, or supervises any functions of emergency medical services personnel licensed and authorized pursuant to this chapter, or rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter, including advanced life support personnel, shall be liable for any civil damages for any act or omission in connection with such sponsorship, authorization, support, finance, or supervision of those emergency medical services personnel, where the act or omission occurs in connection with EMS training, or occurs outside a hospital, unless the act or omission is inconsistent with the level and scope of the training of the emergency medical services personnel and unless the act or omission was the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(d) No physician, who in good faith arranges for, requests, recommends, or initiates the transfer of a patient from a hospital to a critical medical care facility in another hospital, shall be liable for any civil damages as a result of the transfer, where sound medical judgment indicates that the patient's medical condition is beyond the care capability currently available in the transferring hospital or the medical community in which that hospital is located and where a prior agreement exists from the transferee facility to accept and render necessary treatment to such patients.

(e) Any municipal, fire district, or state firefighter, paramedic or emergency medical technician who, in good faith, without the expectation of monetary or other compensation from the person aided or treated, renders first aid, emergency treatment, rescue assistance or transport services to a person at the scene of an accident, fire, or in any other emergency situation, or en route therefrom to any hospital, medical clinic or doctor's office, shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such care, treatment or assistance.

(f) The individual immunity granted herein shall apply to members or employees of governmental ambulance, rescue or emergency units, whether or not a user or service fee may be charged by the governmental entity and whether or not the members or employees receive salaries or other compensation from the governmental entity.

(g) The immunity granted herein shall also extend to any city, town or fire district engaged in rendering emergency aid.

(h) This section shall not be construed to provide immunity to a person or entity causing any damage by his willful, wanton or reckless acts or omissions.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.


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