Laws Pertaining to Bystander CPR and AEDs

The following people and entities are protected in emergency situations:

• An individual who having no duty to do so in good faith voluntarily renders cardiopulmonary resuscitation to another individual ...
• An individual who having no duty to do so in good faith voluntarily renders emergency services to another individual using an automated external defibrillator ...
• A physician who provides medical authorization for use of an automated external defibrillator.
• An individual who instructs others in the use of an automated external defibrillator.
• An individual or entity that owns, occupies, or manages the premises where an automated external defibrillator is located or used.

Licensed medical professionals are protected when rendering emergency care

A physician, physician's assistant, registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, or licensed EMS provider who in good faith renders emergency care without compensation at the scene of an emergency, if a physician-patient relationship, physician's assistant-patient relationship, registered professional nurse-patient relationship, licensed practical nurse-patient, or licensed EMS provider-patient relationship did not exist before the emergency, is not liable for civil damages ...

Licensed medical professionals not normally assigned to the ER are protected when responding to a request for help in a hospital or other licensed medical care facility

If the individual's actual hospital duty does not require a response to the emergency situation, a physician, physician's assistant, dentist, podiatrist, intern, resident, registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, physical therapist, clinical laboratory technologist, inhalation therapist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, x-ray technician, or licensed EMS provider who in good faith responds to a life threatening emergency or responds to a request for emergency assistance in a life threatening emergency in a hospital or other licensed medical care facility is not liable for civil damages ...

This act does not diminish a hospital's responsibility to reasonably and adequately staff hospital emergency facilities if the hospital maintains or holds out to the general public that it maintains emergency room facilities.

The owner or operator of a health club shall do all of the following:

• Employ at least 1 individual who has satisfactorily completed a course or courses in basic first aid, basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and AED use taught by the American red cross, the American Heart Association, or an equivalent organization approved by the department.
• Have available on the premises of the health club an AED deployed in a manner that provides obvious and ready accessibility to staff, members, and guests.
• Develop and implement an emergency plan to address emergency services, when needed, during operational hours at the health club.

Health education curriculum shall provide for the following:

• Instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for pupils enrolled in grades 7 to 12. ... This shall use a program developed by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association and incorporate:
  • Nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • Instruction about automated external defibrillators for pupils enrolled in grades 7 to 12.

School districts, public school academies, and nonpublic schools are encouraged to use locally available resources to provide the instruction required to meet the content standards or subject area content expectations and guidelines under subsection (1), including, but not limited to, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, police officers, firefighters, representatives of the American Heart Association or American Red Cross, or properly trained teachers or other school employees.

First responders rendering emergency care are protected

Any municipal or private ambulance driver or attendant or policeman or fireman engaged in emergency first aid service, who, in good faith renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency, shall not be liable for any civil damages as a result of acts or omissions in rendering the emergency care, except acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or wilful and wanton misconduct.