Rapid Fire: Is There a Doctor in the House?
As emergency physicians, our training makes us particularly well-suited to respond to emergencies in public – on a plane, on the roadside and in more formal volunteer opportunities. What legal coverage do we have in these circumstances? Are you under a legal or ethical obligation to respond to a medical crisis outside of the ED? Myths about the Good Samaritan laws will be addressed, and legal variability by state will be discussed. The emphasis will be on circumstances in which a physician is called upon to assist unexpectedly.