Are There Any Legal Implications to Using a Defibrillator?

The only definitive treatment for victims of cardiac arrest is effective CPR and a shock from a defibrillator.

While defibrillators are appearing in more public places, many people question whether there are any legal implications to using one of these devices.

Who Can Use a Defibrillator?

There is a common misconception that you must be medically trained to use a defibrillator during a cardiac emergency. You don’t have to be trained to save a life.

Technological advancements within the defibrillator industry equip the devices with features including audio and visual prompts and real-time CPR feedback. These simple features allow both trained and untrained responders to act during an emergency and feel confident in the treatment they are delivering.

Can I Be Sued?

In 2015, the Government passed a law named the ‘Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism (SARAH),’. People who step in and administer treatment during an emergency are protected from being sued.

No-one has ever been sued successfully in the UK for performing CPR on a cardiac arrest victim.

Are Defibrillators a Legal Requirement?

Unlike fire extinguishers and fire blankets, defibrillators are not a legal requirement for public places in the UK. Currently, working its way through the House of Commons is the Defibrillators Availability Bill that – if passed – will require the provision of defibrillators in educational establishments, leisure centres and other public facilities.

The Bill accompanies the news of CPR being added to the National Curriculum in September 2020. This addition provides young people in England with life-saving knowledge about CPR and the purpose of defibrillators.

Other countries are one step ahead of the UK. All fifty states of the USA have enacted laws or regulations requiring public gathering spaces to have readily available defibrillators. In 2005, Danish 11 year-olds began mandatory CPR training in school. By 2011, bystander CPR doubled, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival tripled.

Planning Ahead

Whilst there are no active legislations for defibrillators to be a legal requirement in the UK, they are the only devices that can save the life of a cardiac arrest victim.

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FAQs

Who is legally allowed to use a defibrillator during a cardiac emergency?

Anyone can use a defibrillator; you do not need to be medically trained. Modern defibrillators come equipped with audio and visual prompts as well as real-time CPR feedback to assist both trained and untrained responders in effectively using the device during emergencies.

Is there any legal protection for individuals who use defibrillators in emergencies?

Yes, the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism (SARAH) Act of 2015 provides legal protection for individuals who act to help others in an emergency. This law protects good Samaritans in the UK from being sued for providing assistance, and to date, no one in the UK has been successfully sued for performing CPR on a cardiac arrest victim.

Are defibrillators legally required in public places in the UK?

Currently, defibrillators are not a legal requirement in public places across the UK. However, legislation is under consideration that could mandate their presence in educational institutions, leisure centres, and other public facilities. This is part of broader efforts to improve public health responses to cardiac emergencies.

How does the UK compare with other countries regarding the legal requirement for defibrillators?

Unlike the UK, all fifty states in the USA require defibrillators in public gathering spaces. Similarly, Denmark has included mandatory CPR training in schools since 2005, which has significantly increased bystander CPR rates and tripled survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

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