Bill On Automatic Defibrillators, Immunity For Responders Passes

HARTFORD — A measure to provide immunity from lawsuits to persons who provide automatic external defibrillators in their buildings and places of business received final legislative approval May 12 by the state House of Representatives.

The legislation (Senate Bill 1089) will encourage more places of business to keep the devices, which provide emergency treatment to persons suffering heart attacks, on hand to save lives, state Representative Jason Perillo said.

“There have been many instances of heart attacks occurring in schools, businesses, and athletic facilities over the years that ended with the death of cardiac arrest victims. Their lives might have been saved if defibrillators had been kept on the premises and someone familiar with their use had acted decisively,” said Rep Perillo, R-113th District, who cosponsored the bill and spoke in favor of it on the floor of the House.

“A primary reason why businesses and facilities have refused to allow defibrillators on their premises has been concern about lawsuits and liability for multimillion-dollar judgments,” Rep Perillo said. “This legislation will provide protection from lawsuits that could be brought against people who provide defibrillators to try to save heart attack victims.”

The bill approved Tuesday by the House of Representatives is similar to legislation Rep Perillo proposed last year. Rep Perillo urged its passage because it will “encourage businesses and property owners to provide defibrillators on their premises — and that lives otherwise lost will be saved.”

“Too many of us have friends or family members who suffered sudden heart attacks and passed away because there were no defibrillators present that could have saved them,” Rep Perillo said. “Defibrillators are relatively simple pieces of equipment and do not require extensive training for people to become competent in their use. I encourage every publicly accessible building to have one or more of these life saving devices available for use by the public.”

The measure passed the house on a 144-0 vote. If Governor M Jodi Rell signs the bill, it will take effect October 1, 2009.

The term “automatic external defibrillator” refers to a device that is used to administer an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart; contains internal decisionmaking electronics, microcomputers or special software that allow it to interpret physiologic signals, make medical diagnoses and, if necessary, apply therapy; guide the user through the process of using the device by audible or visual prompts; and does not require the user to employ any discretion or judgment in its use.