Editing Medical emergency (section)

===Legal protections for responders===
{{Globalize|section|US|date=August 2019}}

To prevent the delay of life-saving aid from bystanders, many states of the USA have "[[Good Samaritan law]]s" which protect civilian responders who choose to assist in an emergency. In many situations, the general public may delay giving care due to fear of [[Public liability|liability]] should they accidentally cause harm.  Good Samaritan laws often protect responders who act within the scope of their knowledge and training, as a "reasonable person" in the same situation would act.

The concept of implied consent can protect first responders in emergency situations.  A first responder may not legally touch a patient without the patient's consent.  However, consent may be either [[expressed consent|expressed]] or [[implied consent|implied]]:<ref name="Caroline">{{cite book|last=Caroline|first=Nancy|year=2013|title=Emergency Care in the Streets|edition=Seventh|publisher=Jones and Bartlett Learning|pages=96–97}}</ref>
* If a patient is able to make decisions, they must give expressed, [[informed consent]] before aid is given.
* However, if a patient is too injured or ill to make decisions – for example, if they are unconscious, have an [[altered mental status]], or cannot communicate - implied consent applies.  Implied consent means that treatment can be given, because it is assumed that the patient would want that care.

Usually, once care has begun, a first responder or first aid provider ''may not'' leave the patient or terminate care until a responder of equal or higher training (such as an [[emergency medical technician]]) assumes care. This can constitute abandonment of the patient and may subject the responder to legal liability. Care must be continued until the patient is transferred to a higher level of care; the situation becomes too unsafe to continue; or the responder is physically unable to continue due to exhaustion or hazards.

Unless the situation is particularly hazardous and is likely to further endanger the patient, [[patient evacuation|evacuating]] an injured victim requires special skills, and should be left to the professionals of the emergency medical and fire service.