NEVADA CPR LIABILITY

Can I get sued or am I in any way liable for performing CPR?

Nevada has a series of “good samaritan” laws that are meant to protect a person from civil liability if they perform CPR on another person and cause injury or death to that person. The laws are known as Gratuitous Care laws and are found in NRS chapter 41.500. The laws immunize the performer of CPR against civil action, as long as no gross negligence exists. The law also covers the use of defibrillators.

Nevada Revised Statute 41.500

NRS 41.500  General rule; volunteers; members of search and rescue organization; persons rendering cardiopulmonary resuscitation or using defibrillator; presumptions relating to emergency care rendered on public school grounds or in connection with public school activities; business or organization that has defibrillator for use on premises.

      1.  Except as otherwise provided in NRS 41.505, any person in this State who renders emergency care or assistance in an emergency, gratuitously and in good faith, except for a person who is performing community service as a result of disciplinary action pursuant to any provision in title 54 of NRS, is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission, not amounting to gross negligence, by that person in rendering the emergency care or assistance or as a result of any act or failure to act, not amounting to gross negligence, to provide or arrange for further medical treatment for the injured person.

      2.  Any person in this State who acts as a driver of an ambulance or attendant on an ambulance operated by a volunteer service or as a volunteer driver or attendant on an ambulance operated by a political subdivision of this State, or owned by the Federal Government and operated by a contractor of the Federal Government, and who in good faith renders emergency care or assistance to any injured or ill person, whether at the scene of an emergency or while transporting an injured or ill person to or from any clinic, doctor’s office or other medical facility, is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission, not amounting to gross negligence, by that person in rendering the emergency care or assistance, or as a result of any act or failure to act, not amounting to gross negligence, to provide or arrange for further medical treatment for the injured or ill person.

      3.  Any person who is an appointed member of a volunteer service operating an ambulance or an appointed volunteer serving on an ambulance operated by a political subdivision of this State, other than a driver or attendant of an ambulance, is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission, not amounting to gross negligence, by that person whenever the person is performing his or her duties in good faith.

      4.  Any person who is a member of a search and rescue organization in this State under the direct supervision of any county sheriff who in good faith renders care or assistance in an emergency to any injured or ill person, whether at the scene of an emergency or while transporting an injured or ill person to or from any clinic, doctor’s office or other medical facility, is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission, not amounting to gross negligence, by that person in rendering the emergency care or assistance, or as a result of any act or failure to act, not amounting to gross negligence, to provide or arrange for further medical treatment for the injured or ill person.

      5.  Any person who is employed by or serves as a volunteer for a public fire-fighting agency and who is authorized pursuant to chapter 450B of NRS to render emergency medical care at the scene of an emergency is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission, not amounting to gross negligence, by that person in rendering that care or as a result of any act or failure to act, not amounting to gross negligence, to provide or arrange for further medical treatment for the injured or ill person.

      6.  Any person who:

      (a) Has successfully completed a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to the guidelines of the American National Red Cross or American Heart Association;

      (b) Has successfully completed the training requirements of a course in basic emergency care of a person in cardiac arrest conducted in accordance with the standards of the American Heart Association; or

      (c) Is directed by the instructions of a dispatcher for an ambulance, air ambulance or other agency that provides emergency medical services before its arrival at the scene of the emergency,

Ê and who in good faith renders cardiopulmonary resuscitation in accordance with the person’s training or the direction, other than in the course of the person’s regular employment or profession, is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission, not amounting to gross negligence, by that person in rendering that care.

      7.  For the purposes of subsection 6, a person who:

      (a) Is required to be certified in the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation pursuant to NRS 391.092; and

      (b) In good faith renders cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the property of a public school or in connection with a transportation of pupils to or from a public school or while on activities that are part of the program of a public school,

Ê shall be presumed to have acted other than in the course of the person’s regular employment or profession.

      8.  Any person who gratuitously and in good faith renders emergency medical care involving the use of an automated external defibrillator is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission, not amounting to gross negligence, by that person in rendering that care.

      9.  A business or organization that has placed an automated external defibrillator for use on its premises is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission, not amounting to gross negligence, by the person rendering such care or for providing the automated external defibrillator to the person for the purpose of rendering such care if the business or organization:

      (a) Complies with all current federal and state regulations governing the use and placement of an automated external defibrillator;

      (b) Ensures that the automated external defibrillator is maintained and tested according to the operational guidelines established by the manufacturer; and

      (c) Establishes requirements for the notification of emergency medical assistance and guidelines for the maintenance of the equipment.

      10.  As used in this section, “gratuitously” means that the person receiving care or assistance is not required or expected to pay any compensation or other remuneration for receiving the care or assistance.