By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang last week signed into law House Bill 24-35, which provides limited immunity from civil liability for those who administer reversal medication to opioid overdose victims.
Authored by Rep. Malcolm J. Omar, H.B. 24-35 — now Public Law 24-25 — amends the CNMI Good Samaritan Act to encourage family members, friends, bystanders, and first responders — including emergency service employees, firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics—to administer opioid overdose reversal medication such as naloxone.
The new law, according to its author, expands access to naloxone by allowing it to be prescribed to people other than the person at risk of overdose or by removing the requirement for a person to see a prescriber before obtaining the medication. Equally important, it encourages bystanders to act as Good Samaritans by saving people from opioid overdoses without fear of legal consequences.
P.L. 24-25 also builds on Public Law 23-23, which established the CNMI Drug Overdose Policy and previously provided limited immunity only to first responders from government and privately owned emergency services when administering opioid overdose reversal medication.
Under the new law, any person rendering unpaid emergency care by administering opioid overdose reversal medication such as naloxone “shall only be liable in civil damages resulting from acts or omissions performed in a grossly negligent manner or acts or omissions not performed in good faith.”
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation strongly supports the measure. In a letter to the Legislature last year, CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna said the bill would empower the CNMI community to respond quickly and without hesitation when every second counts.
Aside from bystanders, family members, EMTs, law enforcement officers, and firefighters, Muna noted that the legislation also extends Good Samaritan protections to off-duty personnel, Public School System employees, and emergency personnel of other public entities.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
