Pennsylvania Good Samaritan Act
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8332
Nonmedical
good Samaritan civil immunity
(a)
General rule.--Any person who renders emergency care, first aid or rescue at
the scene of an emergency, or moves the person receiving such care, first aid
and rescue to a hospital or other place of medical care, shall not be liable to
such person for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions in
rendering the emergency care, first aid or rescue, or moving the person
receiving the same to a hospital or other place of medical care, except any
acts or omissions intentionally designed to harm or any grossly negligent acts
or omissions which result in harm to the person receiving the emergency care,
first aid or rescue or being moved to a hospital or other place of medical
care.
(b)
Exceptions--
(1) This section shall not relieve a driver of an
ambulance or other emergency or rescue vehicle from liability arising from
operation or use of such vehicle.
(2) In order for any person to receive the benefit of the
exemption from civil liability provided for in subsection (a), he shall be, at
the time of rendering the emergency care, first aid or rescue or moving the
person receiving emergency care, first aid or rescue to a hospital or other
place of medical care, the holder of a current certificate evidencing the
successful completion of a course in first aid, advanced life saving or basic
life support sponsored by the American National Red Cross or the American Heart
Association or an equivalent course of instruction approved by the Department
of Health in consultation with a technical committee of the Pennsylvania
Emergency Health Services Council and must be performing techniques and
employing procedures consistent with the nature and level of the training for
which the certificate has been issued.
1982; 1976, July 9, P.L. 586, No. 142, S 2, effective June
27, 1978. As amended 1978, July 1, P.L. 697, No. 122, S 1, effective in 60
days.
42 Pa.C.S.A. ss 8331
Medical
Good Samaritan civil immunity
(a)
General rule.--Any physician or any other practitioner of the healing arts or
any registered nurse, licensed by any state, who happens by chance upon the
scene of an emergency or who arrives on the scene of an emergency by reason of
serving on an emergency call panel or similar committee of a county medical
society or who is called to the scene of an emergency by the police or other
duly constituted officers of a government unit or who is present when an
emergency occurs and who, in good faith, renders emergency care at the scene of
the emergency, shall not be liable for any civil damages as a result of any
acts or omissions by such physician or practitioner or registered nurse in
rendering the emergency care, except any acts or omissions intentionally
designed to harm or any grossly negligent acts or omissions which result in
harm to the person receiving emergency care.
(b)
Definition.--As used in this section "good faith" shall include, but
is not limited to, a reasonable opinion that the immediacy of the situation is
such that the rendering of care should not be postponed until the patient is
hospitalized.
[1982; 1976, July 9, P.L. 586, No. 142, S 2, effective
June 27, 1978.]