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
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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.
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