Bill > HR1466

This bill aims to establish a nationwide standard of liability protection for individuals and entities involved with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) during medical emergencies. The legislation provides civil liability immunity for people who use or attempt to use an AED during a perceived life-threatening medical emergency, as well as for property owners, lessees, and managers where an AED is used. Device owners are also protected from liability unless they fail to properly maintain the AED according to manufacturer guidelines. The bill defines a "perceived medical emergency" as a situation where a reasonable person would believe an individual is experiencing a life-threatening heart or cardiopulmonary condition requiring immediate response. Immunity does not apply in cases of willful misconduct, gross negligence, or when a licensed healthcare professional is acting within their professional scope. The legislation seeks to address inconsistent state-level "Good Samaritan" laws and encourage wider AED deployment by reducing liability concerns, particularly for organizations with operations across multiple states. The bill explicitly does not require AED placement in any specific location and does not create a new cause of action, but instead preempts state laws that might allow civil liability in circumstances where this federal law provides immunity.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1466/all-info