AED Legal Analysis for Missouri
Summary
Good Samaritan protection from civil liability for the use of an AED extends to rescuers, persons responsible for the site where the AED is located, the owner of the AED, and the person(s) responsible for training the user.
Related Laws
| Statute | Law Type | Effective Date | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.B. 1682 | Repealing previous requirements. | 2020-07-23 | Effective immediately through House Bill No. 1682, the state of Missouri has repealed most of its requirements for maintaining an AED program. They repealed the requirements for medical direction, training, EMS activation, and PSAP registration. They now only require the following: Comply with all regulations governing the placement of an automated external defibrillator Ensure that the automated external defibrillator is maintained and tested according to the operation and maintenance guidelines set forth by the manufacturer Ensure that the automated external defibrillator is tested at least every two years and after each use; and Ensure that an inspection is made of all automated external defibrillators on the premises at least every ninety days for potential issues related to the operation of the device, including a blinking light or other obvious defect that may suggest tampering or that another problem has arisen with the functionality of the automated external defibrillator. Updated Good Samaritan Protection: Any person who gratuitously and in good faith renders emergency care by use of or provision of an automated external defibrillator shall not be held liable for any civil damages or subject to any criminal penalty as a result of such care or treatment, unless the person acts in a willful and wanton or reckless manner in providing the care, advice, or assistance. The person who or entity that provides training to the person using an automated external defibrillator, the person or entity responsible for the site where the automated external defibrillator is located, and the person or entity that owns the automated external defibrillator shall likewise not be held liable for civil damages or subject to any criminal penalty resulting from the use of an automated external defibrillator. |
We make every attempt to ensure the accuracy of our research regarding automated external defibrillator (AED) unit laws in each state across the country, however, with laws varying from state-to-state and even on a local basis, as you might imagine, staying abreast of constant changes is a very challenging process. As such, it's important to note that our findings should be used for informational purposes only and that any specific AED laws or AED requirements for your AED program should be developed between you and your legal counsel. If you have any suggestions, information, or tips on new or pending AED unit legislation that you feel might help improve our AED requirement pages, please contact us to let us know! By spreading knowledge about how to build and manage legally compliant AED programs, we hope to improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.