HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 1626

BYRepresentatives Braddock, Ballard, Brooks, Moyer and Kremen

Amending emergency medical service provisions.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Cantwell, Lewis, Lux, D. Sommers, Sprenkle and Vekich.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 3, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Social and Health Services certifies emergency medical personnel, whose responsibility is to provide emergency medical care and treatment to persons at the scene of an accident or in transporting patients to medical facilities.  Emergency medical personnel are immune from liability for acts of ordinary negligence for rendering pre-hospital emergency medical care, but this immunity does not apply to the emergency care of patients transported between hospitals.

SUMMARY:

Emergency medical care includes the transportation of patients between health facilities, as well as to health facilities, and the limitation of emergency care to pre-hospital treatment is removed.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 22, 1988.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Steve Hubbard, Washington Ambulance Association; Jack Cvitanovic, DSHS (answered questions only); Rex Lindquist, Washington State Council of Firefighters; John Murphy, Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs; Dr. Lother Pinkers, Chair, Washington State Medical Association Emergency Medical Services Standards Committee.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    An attorney general opinion enlightened the emergency medical services community with news that their immunity from liability for ordinary negligence did not apply when transporting patients between hospitals.  Legislation is needed to authorize emergency medical services between health facilities without placing emergency medical personnel in legal jeopardy.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.