PRINTER'S NO. 827
No. 730 Session of 1975
INTRODUCED BY BERLIN, IRVIS, MANDERINO, RAPPAPORT, GALLAGHER, SHANE, A. P. KELLY, WILSON, MILLIRON, TOLL, REED, BURNS, BRADLEY, FINEMAN AND FEE, MARCH 17, 1975
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 18, 1975
AN ACT 1 Defining emergency medical technician; authorizing such 2 personnel to render emergency care; exempting such personnel 3 and physicians working in conjunction with them from civil 4 liability when rendering such care; and making repeals. 5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 6 hereby enacts as follows: 7 Section 1. Definitions.--As used in this act: 8 "Emergency medical technician-advanced" (referred to as EMT- 9 ADVANCED) means an emergency medical technician specifically 10 trained in an advanced program of emergency cardiac and 11 noncardiac care and certified by the secretary as qualified to 12 render the services enumerated in section 3. 13 "Emergency medical technician-ambulance" (referred to as EMT- 14 AMBULANCE) means an individual who is certified by the secretary 15 as (1) having completed an approved course of instruction in 16 emergency care and transportation of the sick and injured; or as 17 (2) having demonstrated comparable knowledge and skills in 18 emergency care.
1 "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health, or his duly 2 appointed representative. 3 Section 2. Treatment Rendered by Emergency Medical 4 Technician-Ambulance.--Notwithstanding the provisions of the act 5 of July 20, 1974 (No.190), known as the "Medical Practice Act of 6 1974," or the provisions of any other act to the contrary, any 7 emergency medical technician-ambulance may, in the case of an 8 emergency: 9 (1) render emergency medical care, including pulmonary 10 resuscitation; and 11 (2) perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but excluding 12 those skills enumerated in section 3. 13 Section 3. Treatment Rendered by Emergency Medical 14 Technician-Advanced.--In addition to the provisions of section 15 2, any emergency medical technician-advanced, may upon order of 16 a physician: 17 (1) administer parenteral medications and solutions 18 authorized by the secretary; 19 (2) perform gastric and pharyngeal suction by intubation; 20 (3) establish and maintain an airway by endotracheal 21 intubation; and 22 (4) perform defibrillation. 23 Section 4. Training and Certification.--(a) In developing 24 training and certification standards for emergency medical 25 technicians, the secretary shall seek the advice of a technical 26 Pennsylvania Emergency Health Service Council. 27 (b) When serving in this capacity members of the council 28 shall serve without compensation except for travel expenses for 29 which they shall be reimbursed. 30 Section 5. Liabilities.--(a) No physician, who in food faith 19750H0730B0827 - 2 -
1 gives instructions to an emergency medical technician, shall be 2 liable for any civil damages as a result of issuing the 3 instructions, unless guilty of gross or wilful negligence. 4 (b) No emergency medical technician, ambulance or advanced, 5 who in good faith attempts to render emergency care authorized 6 by this act, shall be liable for civil damages as a result of 7 any acts or omissions, unless guilty of gross or wilful 8 negligence. 9 Section 6. Repeals.--All acts or parts of acts inconsistent 10 with this act are hereby repealed to the extent of such 11 inconsistency. 12 Section 7. Effective Date.--This act shall take effect 13 immediately. C5L31JLW/19750H0730B0827 - 3 -