District of Columbia

An individual who, in good faith and without compensation, administers an opioid antagonist to a person believed to be suffering from an opiate overdose will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

An employee of Washington D.C., a volunteer agency, or a volunteer worker who while engaged in civil defense activities complies, or attempts to comply, with a rule or regulation will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

A volunteer health practitioner who provides health or veterinary services will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness, intent to cause harm, or they breach a contract. This section does not limit legal responsiblility for a claim brought against the practitioner by the host entity or a claim regarding the operation of a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft. Click to Learn More

An individual or entity who, in good faith and without compensation, uses an AED to provide emergency care or provides or arranges further medical treatment will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. This section does not apply to manufacturers or designers of AEDs or licensed health professionals who use an AED while acting within the scope of their license. Click to Learn More

An individual who, in good faith and without compensation, provides care or assistance at a scene of an emergency or accident will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness. An individual who is not licensed or certified by the District of Columbia to provide medical assistance must relinquish control of the care once a licensed or certified person arrives at the scene. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

A certified EMT or paramedic who, in good faith, provides emergency care at or in transit from an emergency and pursuant to instructions from a licensed physician will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness. Click to Learn More

A licensed physician who, in good faith, gives instructions either directly or via telecommunication to an EMT or paramedic who is providing care at the scene of an emergency or accident will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness. Click to Learn More

An individual who, in good faith, donates food to a charitable organization or an organization that, in good faith, accepts food donation will not be held legally responsible for injury or death due to the condition of the food. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

Washington D.C. can enter into a mutual aid agreement with other jurisdictions for law enforcement aid. A law enforcement officer who participates in such an agreement will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, an EMT or paramedic who, in good faith, provides care will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, the Mayor can limit or restrict the duration of practice by volunteer health practitioners, where volunteer health practitioners can practice, and the type of volunteer health practitioners who can practice. Click to Learn More

The Director of the Department of Health can grant temporary certification to Emergency Medical Services Agencies, emergency medical response vehicles, and emergency medical service providers when it is considered necessary to protect the public health interest. These certifications can last up to 90 days. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, a volunteer health practitioner registered with the volunteer registration system and licensed in good standing in another state can practice in D.C. A health practitioner with licenses in multiple states is in not allowed to practice in Washington D.C. if any of their licenses have been suspended or revoked. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, the Mayor can limit or restrict the duration of practice by volunteer health practitioners, where volunteer health practitioners can practice, and the type of volunteer health practitioners who can practice. Click to Learn More

An out-of-state licensed volunteer health practitioner's scope of practice will be the same as a similarly licensed practitioner from Washington D.C., but cannot extend beyond their personal scope of practice. Click to Learn More

A volunteer health practitioner who is providing services in D.C. or is traveling to or from D.C. to provide services and is injured or killed will be considered a Washington D.C. employee for the purposes of workers' compensation. This benefit will be secondary if the practitioner is covered by another workers' compensation or health plan. Click to Learn More

A Washington D.C. volunteer who is injured or killed while performing their services are entitled to workers' compensation. If the person is volunteering with an organization that provides workers' compensation for volunteers, the person will not receive workers' compensation from Washington D.C. Click to Learn More

A law enforcement officer or employee of D.C. who is responding to a mutual aid agreement in another jurisdiction and is injured or killed is entitled to the same workers' compensation or disability benefit as if they were working in Washington D.C. Click to Learn More