Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2025

This bill seeks to amend the Public Health Service Act by establishing a nationally uniform baseline of civil liability protection for the emergency use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) . Congress finds that the current inconsistent state "Good Samaritan" laws create liability concerns that inhibit the widespread deployment of these life-saving devices. By providing clear protections, the legislation aims to encourage more entities to acquire and make AEDs available, ultimately saving lives from cardiac arrest. The bill grants immunity from civil liability to several categories of individuals and entities. This includes persons who use or attempt to use an AED in a perceived medical emergency, owners, occupants, or managers of premises where an AED is used or taken from, and owner-acquirers of AEDs. Immunity for owner-acquirers is contingent on proper maintenance of the device according to manufacturer guidelines. Significantly, these protections apply regardless of whether the AED is marked, registered, or if the user has received specific training. However, immunity does not extend to cases involving willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence , reckless misconduct, or conscious indifference that proximately caused harm. Furthermore, licensed or certified health professionals acting within their scope of employment, or healthcare entities, are generally not covered by these immunity provisions. The legislation preempts state laws that would allow for civil liability where federal immunity applies, but it does not create new causes of action or mandate AED placement. It defines a "perceived medical emergency" as a situation where a reasonable person believes an individual is experiencing a life-threatening cardiopulmonary condition requiring immediate medical response.