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Emergency Law Inventory | Full Law Text

Law Number

ARS 13-403(5)

Summary Title

Good Samaritan Law: Use of Force at the Scene of an Emergency

Summary

A physician, a registered nurse, or a person who provides care at the scene of an emergency can use reasonable physical force to administer a lawful form of care to help an injured or sick person. Consent by the injured or sick person or a person entrusted with his care is required unless the person who is providing care reasonably believes there is no one to consult for consent. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment.

Full Title

Justification; use of physical force

Full Text

5. A duly licensed physician or a registered nurse or a person acting under his direction, or any other person who renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency occurrence, may use reasonable physical force for the purpose of administering a recognized and lawful form of treatment which is reasonably adapted to promoting the physical or mental health of the patient if: (a) The treatment is administered with the consent of the patient or, if the patient is a minor or an incompetent person, with the consent of his parent, guardian or other person entrusted with his care and supervision except as otherwise provided by law; or (b) The treatment is administered in an emergency when the person administering such treatment reasonably believes that no one competent to consent can be consulted and that a reasonable person, wishing to safeguard the welfare of the patient, would consent.

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