Section 1798.6 Of Chapter 5. Medical Control From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 2.5. >> Chapter 5.
1798.6
. (a) Authority for patient health care management in an
emergency shall be vested in that licensed or certified health care
professional, which may include any paramedic or other prehospital
emergency personnel, at the scene of the emergency who is most
medically qualified specific to the provision of rendering emergency
medical care. If no licensed or certified health care professional is
available, the authority shall be vested in the most appropriate
medically qualified representative of public safety agencies who may
have responded to the scene of the emergency.
(b) If any county desires to establish a unified command structure
for patient management at the scene of an emergency within that
county, a committee may be established in that county comprised of
representatives of the agency responsible for county emergency
medical services, the county sheriff's department, the California
Highway Patrol, public prehospital-care provider agencies serving the
county, and public fire, police, and other affected emergency
service agencies within the county. The membership and duties of the
committee shall be established by an agreement for the joint exercise
of powers under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division
7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), authority for the management
of the scene of an emergency shall be vested in the appropriate
public safety agency having primary investigative authority. The
scene of an emergency shall be managed in a manner designed to
minimize the risk of death or health impairment to the patient and to
other persons who may be exposed to the risks as a result of the
emergency condition, and priority shall be placed upon the interests
of those persons exposed to the more serious and immediate risks to
life and health. Public safety officials shall consult emergency
medical services personnel or other authoritative health care
professionals at the scene in the determination of relevant risks.