Massachusetts

When an emergency declaration is in effect, an engineer, architect, environmental professional, landscape artist, planner, land surveyor, or contractor who, voluntarily and without compensation, provides their services within the scope of their professional abilities at the request of public official will not be held legally responsible for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, or loss caused by acts, errors, or omissions of their service. This legal protection is limited to incidents occuring up to 90 days after a natural disaster unless extended by an executive order. The state or locality requesting the services will not be held legally responsible for these services. 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 physician or nurse administering immunization or another protective public health program will not be held legally responsible for any result of their conduct while carrying out their duties. Click to Learn More

A physician, dentist, or health care facility that, in good faith, provides care to a minor who represent their ability to consent to medical, dental, or health services without a parent or guardiant present will not be held legally responsible. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, the Commonwealth, a political subdivision, agency, or person aiding in civil defense who, in good faith, complys with, or attempts to comply with, a rule or regulation pertaining to the declared emergency 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 registered search and rescue volunteer or a volunteer in a search and rescue who is under the command of the state law enforcement will not be held legally responsible for providing or failing to provide assistance within the search and rescue plan. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or recklessness. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

An individual who, in good faith, administers or attempts to administer naloxone or another opioid antagonist to a person reasonably believed to be experiencing an opiate related overdose will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with carelessness or recklessness. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

An individual who, in good faith and without compensation, provides, attempts to provide or fails to provide CPR, defibrillation, or emergency care will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

An individual who owns or controls real estate or other premises and, voluntarily and without compensation, allows a city or town to use the real estate for the purpose of sheltering people during an actual, impending, or mock disaster or attack will not be held legally responsible for causing the death or injury to a person on the real estate or the loss or damage to a person's property while on their real estate. Click to Learn More

An individual who completes AED training and who, in good faith, uses it on someone appearing to need CPR or defibrillation will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with carelessness. Click to Learn More

A registered physician or nurse who, in good faith, advises emergency medical services personnel by radio or other means of communication before a patient arrives at a hospital will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. An emergency medical services provider who, in good faith, acts based upon such advice will not be held legally responsible. Click to Learn More

An emergency medical service provider who, in good faith, provides emergency first aid, CPR, or other emergency services to an injured or incapacitated person will not be held legally responsible. An emergency medical services provider is not responsible for the hospital expenses if the person who received emergency care is hospitalized. Click to Learn More

A registered physician, physician assistant, or nurse who, in good faith and without compensation, provides or attempts to provide emergency care outside their ordinary course of practice will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness. A physician, physician assistant, or nurse is not responsible for hospital expenses if they hospitalize a person who received emergency care. This legal protection is not limited to physicians, physician assistants, and nurses registered in Massachusetts. 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 registered veterinarian who, in good faith and without compensation, provides, or attempts to provide, emergency care to an animal outside their ordinary course of practice will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. A veterinarian is not responsible for hospital expenses if they hospitalize an animal who received emergency care. This legal protection is not limited to veterinarians registered in Massachusetts. 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 physician can apply for a volunteer medical license in place of a full or a retired inactive license through the Board of Registration in Medicine. A physician holding a volunteer license can only practice at work sites approved by the Board and cannot accept compensation for their practice of medicine. A volunteer license is not required for a physician to volunteer their time. Click to Learn More

A dentist can can apply for a volunteer dental license in place of a full or a retired inactive license through the Board. A dentist holding a volunteer license can only practice at work sites approved by the Board and cannot accept compensation for their practice of dentistry. A volunteer license is not required for a dentist to volunteer their time. Click to Learn More

A political subdivision must authorize law enforcement aid through an ordinance, by-law or vote by an authorizing board when it is requested by another political subdivision during riots or violence. When approved, they will have the same powers, duties, immunities, and privileges as in their home jurisdiction. The requesting political subdivision will compensate for injury or death. Click to Learn More

Law enforcement officer and firefighters responding to a request for aid have the same powers, immunities, duties, and privileges as in their home jurisdiction. The requesting political subdivision will compensate the responders for any injury or death. Click to Learn More

A pharmacist can accept an oral prescription from a practitioner during an emergency on when the immediate administration of the drug is necessary for proper treatment, there is no alternative treatment available, and it is not reasonable for a practitioner to provide a written prescription to the pharmacist. Within 72 hours of authorizing an emergency Schedule II prescription, the prescribing practitioner must write a prescription for the dispensing pharmacist to attach to the oral prescription. Click to Learn More

An employee of a state agency, who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross, can be granted leave with pay to provide aid to disaster relief services upon the request of the American Red Cross, recommendation of the employee's agency, and approval of the Governor. This is limited to 15 days in a 12 month period either consecutively or nonconsecutively . Massachusetts can refuse to provide workers' compensation for an employee during this leave. Click to Learn More

An employee or volunteer who is injured or killed while traveling to or from or providing aid pursuant to an intrastate mutual aid agreement is entitled to the same workers' compensation and employee benefits from their home government as if they were in their home jurisdiction. Click to Learn More

A volunteer firefighter, auxiliary or part-time law enforcement officer, or emergency medical services provider who is injured or killed during the performance of duties is entitlted to workers' compensation from the city, town, or district where the incident occurs. Click to Learn More

A volunteer who is injured or killed while performing their duties are entitled to Massachusetts workers' compensation. Click to Learn More

A political subdivision must authorize law enforcement aid through an ordinance, by-law or vote by an authorizing board when it is requested by another political subdivision during riots or violence. When approved, they will have the same powers, duties, immunities, and privileges as in their home jurisdiction. The requesting political subdivision will compensate for injury or death. Click to Learn More

Law enforcement officer and firefighters responding to a request for aid have the same powers, immunities, duties, and privileges as in their home jurisdiction. The requesting political subdivision will compensate the responders for any injury or death. Click to Learn More