S-0513.1

SENATE BILL 5208

BySenators Palumbo, Wilson, L., Mullet, Wilson, C., Carlyle, Cleveland, Kuderer, Zeiger, Liias, Das, and Frockt

AN ACT Relating to emergency medical services for animals; amending RCW 18.92.060; adding a new section to chapter 18.73 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

(2) It is the intent of the legislature to provide legal authority and liability protection for emergency medical service providers that choose to perform limited veterinary medical procedures on animals.

(3) It is not the intent of the legislature to require emergency medical service providers to provide medical treatment to animals. Whether or not to provide medical treatment to animals, and what treatment to provide, if any, must be decided by each emergency medical service provider as it determines what is reasonable, based on factors that include, but are not limited to, the availability of trained personnel, equipment, and supplies, and any risks of human injury or to human life that may result from providing medical treatment of animals.

Sec. 2. RCW 18.92.060 and 2000 c 93 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

Nothing in this chapter applies to:

(1) Commissioned veterinarians in the United States military services or veterinarians employed by Washington state and federal agencies while performing official duties;

(2) A person practicing veterinary medicine upon his or her own animal;

(3) A person advising with respect to or performing the castrating and dehorning of cattle, castrating and docking of sheep, castrating of swine, caponizing of poultry, or artificial insemination of animals;

(4)(a) A person who is a regularly enrolled student in a veterinary school or training course approved under RCW 18.92.015 and performing duties or actions assigned by his or her instructors or working under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian during a school vacation period or (b) a person performing assigned duties under the supervision of a veterinarian within the established framework of an internship program recognized by the board;

(5) A veterinarian regularly licensed in another state consulting with a licensed veterinarian in this state;

(6) A veterinary technician or veterinary medication clerk acting under the supervision and control of a licensed veterinarian. The practice of a veterinary technician or veterinary medication clerk is limited to the performance of services which are authorized by the board;

(7) An owner being assisted in practice by his or her employees when employed in the conduct of the owner's business;

(8) An owner being assisted in practice by some other person gratuitously;

(9) The implanting in their own animals of any electronic device for identifying animals by established humane societies and animal control organizations that provide appropriate training, as determined by the veterinary board of governors, and/or direct or indirect supervision by a licensed veterinarian;

(10) The implanting of any electronic device by a public fish and wildlife agency for the identification of fish or wildlife;

(b) A professional or volunteer emergency responder serving a fire protection district, regional fire protection service authority, municipal fire department, regional emergency medical service system, or law enforcement agency who provides emergency medical services to an animal.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 18.73 RCW to read as follows:

(1) In an emergency medical or fire response, or response to aid law enforcement, an emergency medical service provider may provide the following emergency medical services to an animal prior to or during transfer for further treatment by a veterinarian licensed to practice under chapter 18.92 RCW if the emergency medical service provider is authorized by law or rules to provide the corresponding service to a human patient:

(a) Opening and manually maintaining an airway;

(b) Giving mouth to snout or mouth to barrier ventilation;

(c) Administering oxygen;

(d) Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(e) Managing ventilation by mask;

(f) Controlling hemorrhage with direct pressure;

(g) Immobilizing a fracture; or

(h) Bandaging.

(2) In addition to any other immunity from civil liability granted by law, an emergency medical service provider, emergency medical services medical program director, or emergency medical service organization is not liable for civil damages, criminal prosecution, or professional disciplinary action resulting from any act or omission in the rescue, stabilization, transport, or rendering of emergency medical care services to an animal in accordance with this section other than acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

(3)(a) Notwithstanding any conflicting provision of chapter 18.92 RCW or rules adopted by the veterinary board of governors, a veterinarian may establish and provide a written protocol to, or consult with, an emergency medical service provider, emergency medical services medical program director, or emergency medical service organization for the purpose of enabling the provision of emergency medical services to an animal under this section.

(b) A veterinarian who acts in good faith in accordance with (a) of this subsection is not liable for civil damages, criminal prosecution, or professional disciplinary action resulting from any act or omission of an emergency medical service provider defined in subsection (1) of this section in performing rescue, stabilization, transport, or emergency medical services to an animal under this section.

(4) For purposes of this section, "emergency medical service provider" means an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, paramedic, or other professional or volunteer emergency responder serving a fire protection district, regional fire protection service authority, municipal fire department, regional emergency medical service system, or law enforcement agency.

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