Wash. Rev. Code » Title 4 · Chapter 4.24
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 4.24.300 (2026)

Immunity from liability for certain types of medical care

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Any person, including but not limited to a volunteer provider of emergency or medical services, who without compensation or the expectation of compensation renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency or who participates in transporting, not for compensation, therefrom an injured person or persons for emergency medical treatment shall not be liable for civil damages resulting from any act or omission in the rendering of such emergency care or in transporting such persons, other than acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. Any person rendering emergency care during the course of regular employment and receiving compensation or expecting to receive compensation for rendering such care is excluded from the protection of this subsection.
(2) Any licensed health care provider regulated by a disciplining authority under RCW 18.130.040 in the state of Washington who, without compensation or the expectation of compensation, provides health care services at a community health care setting is not liable for civil damages resulting from any act or omission in the rendering of such care, other than acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
(3) For purposes of subsection (2) of this section, "community health care setting" means an entity that provides health care services and:
(a) Is a clinic operated by a public entity or private tax exempt corporation, except a clinic that is owned, operated, or controlled by a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW unless the hospital-based clinic either:
(i) Maintains and holds itself out to the public as having established hours on a regular basis for providing free health care services to members of the public to the extent that care is provided without compensation or expectation of compensation during those established hours; or
(ii) Is participating, through a written agreement, in a community-based program to provide access to health care services for uninsured persons, to the extent that:
(A) Care is provided without compensation or expectation of compensation to individuals who have been referred for care through that community-based program; and
(B) The health care provider's participation in the community-based program is conditioned upon his or her agreement to provide health services without expectation of compensation;
(b) Is a for-profit corporation that maintains and holds itself out to the public as having established hours on a regular basis for providing free health care services to members of the public to the extent that care is provided without compensation or expectation of compensation during those established hours; or
(c) Is a for-profit corporation that is participating, through a written agreement, in a community-based program to provide access to health care services for uninsured persons, to the extent that:
(i) Care is provided without compensation or expectation of compensation to individuals who have been referred for care through that community-based program; and
(ii) The health care provider's participation in the community-based program is conditioned upon his or her agreement to provide health services without expectation of compensation.
(4) Any school district employee not licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW who renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency during an officially designated school activity or who participates in transporting therefrom an injured person or persons for emergency medical treatment shall not be liable for civil damages resulting from any act or omission in the rendering of such emergency care or in transporting such persons, other than acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
[ 2014 c 204 s 3; 2004 c 87 s 1; 2003 c 256 s 1; 1985 c 443 s 19; 1975 c 58 s 1.]

Notes:

Severability—Effective date—1985 c 443: See notes following RCW 7.69.010.
Citizen's immunity if aiding police officer: RCW 9.01.055.
Infectious disease testing availability: RCW 70.05.180.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 18 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1979–2022 · leading case: Gardner v. Loomis Armored, Inc., 913 P.2d 377 (Wash. 1996).
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Gardner v. Loomis Armored, Inc., 913 P.2d 377 (Wash. 1996). · cites it 8× “Plaintiffs argue Gardner’s termination for leaving the truck in order to respond to a hostage situation contravened this public policy. Plaintiffs also argue Gardner’s termination violates the public policy which encourages citizens to come to the aid of others in need of care.”
Sofie v. Fibreboard Corp., 780 P.2d 260 (Wash. 1989). · cites it 2× “2d 1026 (1987); RCW 4.24.300 (immunity from liability of persons rendering emergency care); RCW 4.”
Youngblood v. Schireman, 765 P.2d 1312 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 3× “*108 Voluntary Emergency Transportation The "good Samaritan" statute, RCW 4.24.300, states: Any person, including but not limited to a volunteer provider of emergency or medical services, who without compensation or the expectation of compensation renders emergency care at the…”
Burkhart v. Harrod, 755 P.2d 759 (Wash. 1988). · cites it 2× “Thus, providers of emergency care are immune from ordinary negligence suits under RCW 4.24.300. Reporters of child abuse are immune from suit under RCW 26.”
Carter v. Reese (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5569 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 2× “01-225(A)(1) (“Any person who * * * renders emergency care or assistance * * * at the scene of an accident, fire, or any life- threatening emergency * * * shall not be liable for any civil damages * * *”); Wash.Rev.Code Ann. 4.24.300(1) (“Any person, * * * who * * * renders…”
Stewart-Graves v. Vaughn, 162 Wash. 2d 115 (Wash. 2007). · cites it 2× “¶54 I agree with the majority, “to suggest that a medical emergency ceases to exist once it becomes apparent to a physician that a patient will inevitably suffer severe disabilities is untenable.”
Stewart-Graves v. Vaughn, 170 P.3d 1151 (Wash. 2007). · cites it 2× “Her decision to continue resuscitation until she had exhausted all possibilities was a reasonable response to an emergency. ¶ 54 I agree with the majority, "to suggest that a medical emergency ceases to exist once it becomes apparent to a physician that a patient will inevitably…”
City Of Seattle, V. Delaura & Fred B. Norg, 491 P.3d 237 (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 2× “Supreme Court’s Prior 911 Call Cases The City contends that under well-established Supreme Court precedent, no tort liability can ever arise out of a governmental response to a 911 call because 4 The legislature appears to have recognized this common law duty when it passed RCW…”
Certification of a Question of Law, 2010 SD 16 (S.D. 2010). · cites it 2× “01-225; Wash.Rev.Code Ann. 4.24.300; W. Va. Code 55-7-15; Wis.”
State v. Hillman, 832 P.2d 1369 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). “RCW 4.24.300. Similarly, one who comes to the aid of a perceived assault victim is protected from criminal prosecution, even if the victim is discovered to have been the aggressor.”
Swenson v. Waseca Mut. Ins. Co., 653 N.W.2d 794 (Minn. Ct. App. 2002). “” Wash. Rev.Code § 4.24.300 (2000) (emphasis added).”
Hansen v. Horn Rapids O.R v. Park, 932 P.2d 724 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). “The court also concluded Tri-City Aid Service and the emergency medical technicians were volunteers under RCW 4.24.300, and thus were immune from liability for all conduct except gross negligence.”
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— Wash. Rev. Code § 4.24.300(1) — 2 cases
Carter v. Reese (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5569 (Ohio 2016). “01-225(A)(1) (“Any person who * * * renders emergency care or assistance * * * at the scene of an accident, fire, or any life- threatening emergency * * * shall not be liable for any civil damages * * *”); Wash.Rev.Code Ann. 4.24.300(1) (“Any person, * * * who * * * renders…”
City Of Seattle, V. Delaura & Fred B. Norg, 491 P.3d 237 (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Supreme Court’s Prior 911 Call Cases The City contends that under well-established Supreme Court precedent, no tort liability can ever arise out of a governmental response to a 911 call because 4 The legislature appears to have recognized this common law duty when it passed RCW…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 4.24.300(4) — 1 case
Dinitia Harris, V. Fed. Way Pub. Schs. (Wash. Ct. App. 2022).
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