Connecticut § 7-294pp - Person experiencing emergency medical condition while in custody, control or direct audio or visual contact with a peace officer. Request for emergency medical services by peace officer. When required.

§ 7-294pp. Person experiencing emergency medical condition while in custody, control or direct audio or visual contact with a peace officer. Request for emergency medical services by peace officer. When required.

Sec. 7-294pp. Person experiencing emergency medical condition while in custody, control or direct audio or visual contact with a peace officer. Request for emergency medical services by peace officer. When required. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Emergency medical condition” means a medical condition, whether physical, behavioral or related to a substance use disorder or mental health disorder, that manifests itself by symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, that in the absence of prompt medical attention could reasonably be expected by a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine to result in placing the health of the person in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to body function or serious dysfunction of any body organ or part;

(2) “Medically unstable” means any condition, whether physical, behavioral or related to a substance use disorder or mental health disorder, that manifests in an unstable medical or mental health status, which could reasonably be understood by a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine to lead to an emergency medical condition; and

(3) “Peace officer” has the same meaning as provided in section 53a-3.

(b) Any person who experiences an emergency medical condition or is medically unstable while in direct audio or visual contact with, or under the custody or control of, a peace officer shall have the right to be provided with emergency medical services.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a peace officer shall immediately request emergency medical services for any person who is under such officer's custody or control or otherwise in direct audio or visual contact with the peace officer when such person: (1) Has communicated to the peace officer that the person is (A) experiencing an emergency medical condition, or (B) medically unstable, or (2) has been observed by the peace officer to be (A) experiencing an emergency medical condition, or (B) medically unstable.

(d) A peace officer shall not be required to request emergency medical services when such officer (1) has made a reasonable determination that the person is not (A) experiencing an emergency medical condition, or (B) medically unstable, and (2) knows that such person has been seen by a medical professional within the previous twenty-four hours and was released from such medical professional's care after a determination that such person was not (A) experiencing an emergency medical condition, or (B) medically unstable.

(P.A. 23-192, S. 1; P.A. 24-24, S. 3.)

History: P.A. 24-24 made technical changes in Subsec. (a)(1) and (2).