SENATE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 827, 1858 PRINTER'S NO. 3716
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 COPPERSMITH, PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 21, 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) means an individual who is <-- 16 certified by the secretary as (1) having completed an approved 17 course of instruction in emergency care and transportation of
1 the sick and injured; or as (2) having demonstrated comparable 2 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 19750H0730B3716 - 2 -
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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