California Supreme Court Ruling Limits Liability Protections
On Thursday, the California Supreme Court issued a ruling that restricts so-called Good Samaritan liability protections to people who deliver medical care in emergency situations, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The ruling stems from a case in which Lisa Torti removed Alexandra Van Horn from an overturned vehicle. Van Horn alleges that Torti aggravated spinal injuries when she removed her from the vehicle.
According to the Times, the ruling "appeared to signal that rescue efforts are the responsibility of trained professionals."
In a sharply worded dissent, justices wrote that distinguishing between medical care and emergency response yields "an arbitrary and unreasonable limitation" on liability protections (Williams, Los Angeles Times, 12/19). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.