MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2007 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services; Judiciary A
By: Representative Barnett, Bondurant, Chism, Ellington, Gregory, Ishee, Lott, Martinson, Mims, Palazzo, Robinson (84th), Staples, Upshaw, Wells-Smith, Woods, Zuber
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-25-37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND IMMUNITY FOR THE GOOD FAITH USE OF AN AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR BY A PERSON UNTRAINED IN ITS USE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 73-25-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
73-25-37. (1) No duly licensed, practicing physician, dentist, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, certified registered emergency medical technician, or any other person who, in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable care, renders emergency care to any injured person at the scene of an emergency, or in transporting the injured person to a point where medical assistance can be reasonably expected, shall be liable for any civil damages to the injured person as a result of any acts committed in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable care or omissions in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable care by such persons in rendering the emergency care to the injured person.
(2) (a) Any person who in good faith, with or without compensation, renders emergency care or treatment by the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in accordance with the provisions of Sections 41-60-31 through 41-60-35, as well as the person responsible for the site where the AED is located if the person has provided for compliance with the provisions of Sections 41-60-31 through 41-60-35, shall be immune from civil liability for any personal injury as a result of that care or treatment, or as a result of any act, or failure to act, in providing or arranging further medical treatment, where the person acts as an ordinary, reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances and the person's actions or failure to act does not amount to willful or wanton misconduct or gross negligence.
(b) A person who has not complied with the provisions of Sections 41-60-31 through 41-60-35, but who has access to an AED and uses it in good faith in an emergency as an ordinary prudent person would have done in the same or similar circumstances, shall be immune from civil liability for any personal injury as a result of an act or omission related to the operation of or failure to operate an AED if the person's actions or failure to act do not amount to willful or wanton misconduct or gross negligence.
(3) The immunity from civil liability for any personal injury under subsection (2) * * * of this section includes the licensed physician who authorizes, directs or supervises the installation or provision of AED equipment in or on any premises or conveyance other than a medical facility, the owner of the premises where an AED is used, the purchaser of the AED, a person who uses an AED during an emergency for the purpose of attempting to save the life of another person who is or who appears to be in cardiac arrest, and the person who provides the CPR and AED training.
(4) The immunity from civil liability under subsection (2) * * * of this section does not apply if the personal injury results from the gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct of the person rendering the emergency care.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.