Emergency Medical Care

(1) "Medical emergency" means any immediately life threatening condition and shall include but is not limited to the following conditions. (a) severe, profuse bleeding (b) choking, blocked airway (c) unconsciousness (d) cardiac arrest (e) cardio-vascular accident (f) any fracture (g) extensive burns (h) severe cuts (i) other similar severe injury (j) other sudden signs of serious physical illness (k) any condition where delay in treatment will endanger the life, limb or mental well being of the patient. See M.G.L. c. 112, § 12F. Possibility that a disease may deteriorate to an irreversible condition at an uncertain but relatively distant date is not an emergency. See In the Matter of Guardianship of Richard Roe, III, 421 N.E.2d 40, 55; 383 Mass. 415 (1981). In determining whether a medical emergency exists the relevant time period to be examined begins when the claimed emergency arises, and ends when the individual who seeks to act in the emergency could, with reasonable diligence, obtain parental consent or judicial review, as applicable. (3) Consent. When there is a medical emergency, no one's consent is required in order to allow a child to receive necessary medical care. See M.G.L. c. 112, § 12F.