1 Responsibility and liability issues related to the use of the EMK
1.1 Themasteroftheshipisresponsibleformedicalcareonboardshipswhichhavenodoctoras part of the crew (ILO Convention 164/9).
Thisresponsibilityincludesmakinguseofanyexistingandrelevantmeasurestoprovidethepatient with the best possible medical care:
- examination of the patient and assessment of the severity of the medical incident
- providing first aid;
- getting medical advice by TMAS or calling for a doctor among the passengers;
- providingmedicalfacilitiesincludingtheemergencymedicalkitandperformingmedical care; and
- takingtheoperationaldecisioninthelightofthe best medical advice (care on board, ship diversion, medevac,..).
1.2 Ifthereisamedicaldoctoramongthepassengershe/shewillbeaskedforadvicebythe ship'smaster.Whenthedoctoragreestointerveneinthecase,he/shewillberesponsibleforhis/her ownmedicalaction.However,atanytime,themastercangettelemedicaladvicefromaTMAS eithertoconfirmthepassengerdoctor'sactionortohelphim/herinrenderingthebestpossiblecare. Atalltimes,thecaptainshouldsupervisetheperformanceofthetreatmentandbereadytoprovide assistance as required.
1.3 Ifthereisnodoctoronboard,themaster'sresponsibilitycanbesharedwitharemotedoctor throughTMAS.Thedegreeofresponsibility/liabilityofthemaster/doctorwouldbedeterminedin the first instance by an assessment ofhow they fulfilled their pre-established duties.
1.4 In relation to the kit itself, it is an obligation on the master and the company (as defined in ISMCode)tokeeptheemergencymedicalkitingoodrepair.Ifeitherneglectedtodoso,bothwould beopentoanactionfordamagesinnegligence/tort.Assumingthekitisingoodrepairbutsomething goeswrongwiththetreatmentgivenbythepassengerdoctorleadingtophysicalinjurytoordeathof thepatient,thepassengerdoctormightbeliableifhe/sheactednegligently.Inassessingnegligence thecourtwouldaskwhetherthedoctoractedreasonablyinallcircumstancesofthecase.The emergencynatureofthesituationwillbetakenintoaccount,inassessingwhatwasreasonableaction on the doctor's part.
1.5 Themasterorthecompanywouldnotincurliabilitymerelybyaskingforthedoctor's assistance.Norwouldthemasterorthecompanynormallybeliablevicariouslyforanynegligence onthedoctor'spartintreatingthepatient,thisisbecausethedoctorinsuchasituationwouldnot
beemployedbythecompanynorcouldthedoctorberegardedasactingastheagentofthecompany.
1.6 However,inlinewithprecedentsinairtransport,itisrecommendedthatthecompaniesoffer insuranceorlegalassistancetocovercaseswherepassengersqualifiedasdoctorsacceptatthe requestofthemastertoassistanotherpassengeroramemberofthecrewandtakepartofthe responsibility on a voluntary basis.
2.1 Inorderto monitorevaluationandresearchintheuseoftheEMKinemergencyincidents, the “Debriefing Form”, given in the appendix was developed.
2.2 This “Debriefing Form” should be included in the “Emergency Medical Kit”.
2.3 Aftereachcaseofamedicalemergencyinwhichthekithasbeenopenedoroffered,this formshouldbefilledinbytheship'sofficerresponsibleformedicalcareonboardandsenttoa Central Institution designated by the National Maritime Authority.
2.4 ThisCentralInstitutionisinvitedtosendtheseformsandwhenpossibleanevaluationreport to the Organization.