SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 827, 1858, 3716 PRINTER'S NO. 3796
No. 730 Session of 1975
INTRODUCED BY MESSRS. BERLIN, IRVIS, MANDERINO, RAPPAPORT,
GALLAGHER, SHANE, MRS. KELLY, MESSRS. WILSON, MILLIRON, MRS.
TOLL, MESSRS. REED, BURNS, BRADLEY, FINEMAN, FEE AND
WORRILOW, MARCH 17,1975
SENATOR NOLAN, RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, IN SENATE, RE-
REPORTED AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 8, 1976
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 TECHNICIAN-PARAMEDIC" <--
9 (referred to as EMT-ADVANCED EMT-PARAMEDIC) means an emergency <--
10 medical technician specifically trained in an advanced program
11 of emergency cardiac and noncardiac care and certified by the
12 secretary as qualified to render the services enumerated in
13 section 3.
14 "Emergency medical technician-ambulance TECHNICIAN" (referred <--
15 to as EMT-AMBULANCE EMT-PARAMEDIC) EMT) means an individual who <--
16 is certified by the secretary as (1) having completed an
17 approved course of instruction in emergency care and
1 transportation of the sick and injured; or as (2) having
2 demonstrated comparable knowledge and skills in emergency care.
3 "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health, or his duly
4 appointed representative.
5 Section 2. Treatment Rendered by Emergency Medical
6 Technician-Ambulance TECHNICIAN.--Notwithstanding the provisions <--
7 of the act of July 20, 1974 (P.L.551, No.190), known as the
8 "Medical Practice Act of 1974," or the provisions of any other
9 act to the contrary, any emergency medical technician-ambulance <--
10 TECHNICIAN may, in the case of an emergency: <--
11 (1) render emergency medical care, including pulmonary
12 resuscitation; and
13 (2) perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but excluding
14 those skills enumerated in section 3.
15 Section 3. Treatment Rendered by Emergency Medical
16 Technician-Advanced TECHNICIAN-PARAMEDIC.--In addition to the <--
17 provisions of section 2, any emergency medical technician- <--
18 advanced TECHNICIAN-PARAMEDIC, may upon order of a physician: <--
19 (1) administer parenteral medications and solutions
20 authorized by the secretary;
21 (2) perform gastric and pharyngeal suction by intubation;
22 (3) establish and maintain an airway by endotracheal
23 intubation; and
24 (4) perform defibrillation.
25 Section 4. Training and Certification.--(a) In developing
26 training and certification standards for emergency medical
27 technicians OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN-PARAMEDICS, the <--
28 secretary shall seek the advice of a technical Pennsylvania
29 Emergency Health Service Council.
30 (b) When serving in this capacity members of the council
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1 shall serve without compensation except for travel expenses for
2 which they shall be reimbursed.
3 Section 5. Liabilities.--(a) No physician, who in good faith
4 gives instructions to an emergency medical technician, shall be
5 liable for any civil damages as a result of issuing the
6 instructions, unless guilty of gross or wilful negligence.
7 (b) No emergency medical technician, ambulance or advanced, <--
8 OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN-PARAMEDIC, who in good faith <--
9 attempts to render emergency care authorized by this act, shall
10 be liable for civil damages as a result of any acts or
11 omissions, unless guilty of gross or wilful negligence.
12 Section 6. Repeals.--All acts or parts of acts inconsistent
13 with this act are hereby repealed to the extent of such
14 inconsistency.
15 Section 7. Effective Date.--This act shall take effect
16 immediately.
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