Miss. Code. tit. 15, pt. 12, subpt. 31, ch. 10, app 15-12-31-10-8
When to resuscitate
The statute in no way attempts to define when resuscitation should be initiated or withheld. This always has been and still is a medical and not a legal decision. The American Heart Association has established guidelines on decision-making and CPR, and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians recognizes these as acceptable standards. They are as follows:
Few reliable criteria exist by which death can be defined immediately.
Decapitation, rigor mortis, and evidence of tissue decomposition and dependent lividity are reliable criteria. In the absence of such findings, CPR generally should be initiated immediately unless there is an acceptable reason to withhold it. If the decision not to initiate CPR is made by medical professional functioning in his professional capacity, the basis of the decision should not be arbitrary. The reason to withhold CPR should be sufficiently firm so that, should it later be subject to question, a decision can be effectively supported. Contact Medical Control in any questionable decision.
Laws As They Relate To Emergency Medical Services
The source of the laws which pertain to death is the Medical Examiners Act of 1986 and its revisions. For the purpose of this appendix only the portions of the laws that directly effect EMS will be quoted.
It should be pointed out that in any case and under any circumstances, if it is felt by EMS personnel that the patient is resuscitable, neither the Medical Examiner nor Law Enforcement personnel can force the withholding of treatment.
Miss. Code. tit. 15, pt. 12, subpt. 31, ch. 10, app 15-12-31-10-8