Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 368d - Emergency Medical Services
Section 19a-180d. - Responsibility for decision-making on scene of emergency medical call.

Emergency medical services personnel, as defined in section 19a-175, who holds the highest classification of licensure or certification from the Department of Public Health under this chapter and chapter 384d shall be responsible for making decisions concerning patient care on the scene of an emergency medical call. If two or more emergency medical service organizations on such scene hold the same licensure or certification classification, the emergency medical service organization for the primary service area responder, as defined in said section, shall be responsible for making such decisions. If all emergency medical services personnel on such scene are emergency medical technicians or emergency medical responders, as defined in said section, the emergency medical service organization providing transportation services shall be responsible for making such decisions. An emergency medical service organization on the scene of an emergency medical call who has undertaken decision-making responsibility for patient care shall transfer patient care to a provider with a higher classification of licensure or certification upon such provider's arrival on the scene. All emergency medical services personnel with patient care responsibilities on the scene shall ensure such transfer takes place in a timely and orderly manner. For purposes of this section, the classification of licensure or certification from highest to lowest is: Paramedic, advanced emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician and emergency medical responder. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of a fire chief or fire officer-in-charge under section 7-313e to control and direct emergency activities at the scene of an emergency.

(P.A. 15-223, S. 1; P.A. 19-118, S. 52; P.A. 22-92, S. 22.)
History: P.A. 19-118 replaced references to provider with references to emergency medical services personnel and emergency medical service organization, effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 22-92 made a technical change, effective May 24, 2022.

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