{"":null}
Emergency Law Inventory | Full Law Text

Law Number

R.I. Gen. Laws 5-54-20.1

Summary Title

Good Samaritan Law: Physician Assistant

Summary

A physician assistant who, voluntarily and without compensation, provides emergency medical assistance in a non-medical setting, will not be held legally responsible for acting or for failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment.

Full Title

Immunity from liability for gratuitous emergency assistance

Full Text

No person licensed under the provisions of this chapter or members of the same profession licensed to practice in other states of the United States who voluntarily and gratuitously, and other than in the ordinary course of his or her employment or practice, renders emergency medical assistance to a person in need shall be liable for civil damages for any personal injuries resulting from acts or omissions by those persons in rendering the emergency care which may constitute ordinary negligence. The immunity granted by this section shall not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, willful, wanton negligence or when the medical assistance is rendered at any hospital, physician's office or other health care delivery entity where those services are normally rendered.

Save as PDF Back to Laws