> An off the wall question, but, does anyone on the list know details of
> a new piece of European legislation.
>
> This legislation apparently says that the public, when requiring
> medical assistance or rescue, must receive it from the nearest
> appropriate medical or rescue source regardless of political or
> regional boundaries. The implication being that appropriate help is
> gained faster, and if not then someone is liable.
>
I think that one of the people moving this legislation was Gerhart
Kugler, and also the Belgium Government. There are many places
in Europe where there are local cross-border arrangements for
emergency medical services. However there are also places where
there is no cross border arrangement with consequent delays to
medical care.
These EU guidelines are designed to encourage local cross border
co-operation (analagous to the cooperation between adjacent
ambulance services in the UK).
I think that any worry about liability is pretty theoretical as exact
responsability would be pretty difficult to establish.
Tim.
Timothy J Coats MD FRCS FFAEM
Senior Lecturer in Accident and Emergency / Pre-Hospital Care
Royal London Hospital, UK.
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