Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2003 Session > Title 44

This statutory database is current through the 2003 Regular Session of the South Carolina General Assembly. Changes to the statutes enacted by the 2004 General Assembly, which will convene in January 2004, will be incorporated as soon as possible. Some changes enacted by the 2004 General Assembly may take immediate effect. The State of South Carolina and the South Carolina Legislative Council make no warranty as to the accuracy of the data, and users rely on the data entirely at their own risk.




SECTION 44-76-10. Short title.

This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Automated External Defibrillator Act".

SECTION 44-76-20. Definitions.

For purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Automated external defibrillator" or "AED" means an automated external defibrillator which is a medical device heart monitor and defibrillator that:

(a) has received approval of its pre-market notification filed pursuant to the United States Code, Title 21, Section 360(k), from the United States Food and Drug Administration;

(b) is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia and is capable of determining, without intervention by an operator, whether defibrillation should be performed; and

(c) upon determining that defibrillation should be performed, automatically charges and requests delivery of an electrical impulse to an individual's heart.

(2) "Health care professional" means a licensed physician, surgeon, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse.

(3) "Designated AED user" means a person identified by the person or entity acquiring an AED who has received training in the use of an AED pursuant to this chapter.

SECTION 44-76-30. Training, maintenance, testing, use and reporting requirements for automated external defibrillators.

(A) A person or entity that acquires an AED shall:

(1) require its designated AED users to have current training in CPR and AED use by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or National Safety Council;

(2) maintain and test the AED according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines and keep written records of maintenance and testing;

(3) employ or obtain a health care professional to serve as its AED liaison;

(4) have in place an AED program approved by its AED liaison which includes CPR and AED training, AED protocol or guidelines, AED deployment strategies, and an AED equipment maintenance plan;

(5) include in its AED protocol or guidelines that a person who renders emergency care or treatment to a person in cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia by using an AED must activate the emergency medical services system or 911 as soon as possible;

(6) report any clinical use of the AED to the AED liaison.

SECTION 44-76-40. Immunity from civil liability for use of AED in compliance with requirements.

(1) Any person or entity acting in good faith and gratuitously shall be immune from civil liability for the application of an AED unless the person was grossly negligent in the application.

(2) Any designated AED users meeting the requirements of Section 44-76-30(1) and acting according to the required training shall be immune from civil liability for the application of an AED unless the application was grossly negligent.

(3) A person or entity acquiring an AED and meeting the requirements of Section 44-76-30 or an AED liaison meeting the requirements of Section 44-76-30 shall be immune from civil liability for the application of an AED by any person or entity described in items (1) or (2) of this section.

(4) A prescribing physician shall be immune from civil liability for authorizing the purchase of an AED, unless the authorization was grossly negligent.

SECTION 44-76-50. Applicability of chapter.

The provisions of this chapter do not apply to emergency medical services, a physician's office, or a health care facility as defined in Section 44-7-130(10).