District Of Columbia § 7-651.11 - Liability.
Full text of District Of Columbia D.C. Code § 7-651.11 — Liability., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 7-651.11. Liability.
7-651.11No licensed health care professional, EMS personnel, health care facility, government entity, or government employee shall be subject to criminal or civil liability, or be found to have committed an unprofessional act because the person, in good faith, resuscitates, withholds or withdraws resuscitation, or participates in resuscitating or withholding or withdrawing resuscitation in accordance with this chapter. This subsection shall be liberally construed to protect a person who implements this chapter in good faith from liability.
Any physician or nurse who is licensed in the District and who, for religious of moral reasons, is unwilling or unable to comply with a comfort care order for a patient under the physician’s or nurse’s care shall immediately notify their employer, in writing, of their unwillingness or inability to comply with the Order and shall transfer a patient under the care of the physician or nurse to a qualified physician or nurse who is willing or able to honor the comfort care order. A transfer pursuant to this section shall not constitute abandonment of the patient or unprofessional conduct.
If, because of emergency medical circumstances, a physician or nurse who is unwilling or unable to comply with a comfort care order for a patient under the physician’s or nurse’s care has insufficient time to effectuate a transfer in accordance with this subsection, the physician or nurse shall not be found to have committed an unprofessional act or to have violated any provision of this chapter because the physician or nurse resuscitates the patient.
Any EMT/B, EMT/P, or EMT/IP who is certified to provide emergency medical services in the District and who, for religious or moral reasons, is unwilling or unable to comply with a comfort care order shall immediately notify the EMS agency that employs the EMT/B, EMT/P, or EMT/IP, in writing, of their unwillingness or inability to comply with the Order.
An EMT/B, EMT/P, or EMT/IP who is unwilling or unable to comply with a comfort care order shall not be found to have committed an unprofessional act or to have violated any provision of this chapter because the EMT/B, EMT/P, or EMT/IP resuscitates a patient.
Annotations
Source: official District Of Columbia text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About District Of Columbia § 7-651.11
What does D.C. Code § 7-651.11 cover?
Section 7-651.11 ("Liability.") is part of the D.C. Code, the codified statutory law of District Of Columbia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite District Of Columbia § 7-651.11?
A common citation format is "D.C. Code § 7-651.11" (District Of Columbia). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of District Of Columbia law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the District Of Columbia official source linked on this page or consult a licensed District Of Columbia attorney.
How does District Of Columbia § 7-651.11 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia.