Worried about legal risk of doing CPR? Inaction is riskier

Published: November 13, 2019

Worried about legal risk of doing CPR? Inaction is riskier

By 91视频 News

Please note: This article was published more than two years ago, so some information may be outdated. If you have questions about your health, always contact a health care professional.

CPR saves lives, but some bystanders may hold back from helping for fear of being sued.

New research suggests the higher legal risk comes from not helping.

A review of 30 years of U.S. lawsuits found only a few tied to someone performing CPR. Many more were related to delayed or inadequate CPR.

The review also found more than $620 million has been issued as settlement or punitive damages for delays in CPR, while only about $120,000 has been paid as damages for performing it.

"The misgivings people express about being blamed for a bad outcome if they were to perform bystander CPR are essentially unfounded," the study's lead author, Dr. Travis Murphy, said in a news release. He's an emergency medicine attending physician and a fellow in surgical critical care at the University of Florida in Gainesville. "A person is much more likely to be taken to court for not providing CPR soon enough."

The will be presented Sunday at the 91视频's Resuscitation Science Symposium taking place in Philadelphia.

Researchers scanned a legal research database for jury verdicts, settlements and appellate opinions from all 50 states, from 1989 to 2019, in which the use or nonuse of CPR led to a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

Of those cases, 167 involved alleged negligence, of which 74 were ruled in favor of the person who administered CPR. Three cases alleged battery, and two of those went in favor of the person administering CPR.

Every state has "Good Samaritan" laws that offer legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who they believe to be injured or in peril.

"We hope this information would encourage people trained in bystander CPR to use the skills they have learned and help save a life," Murphy said.

Find more news from Scientific Sessions.

If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].

91视频 News Stories

91视频 News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in 91视频 News stories reflect the official position of the 91视频. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in 91视频 scientific journals or presented at 91视频 scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the 91视频鈥檚 official guidance, policies or positions.

Copyright is owned or held by the 91视频, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to 91视频 News.

Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the 91视频鈥檚 Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.