2305.43 Duty of law enforcement officer. - Ohio Statutes

2305.43 Duty of law enforcement officer.

(A) A law enforcement officer shall make a diligent effort to determine whether any disabled person he finds is an epileptic or a diabetic, or suffers from some other type of illness that would cause the condition. Whenever feasible, this effort shall be made before the person is charged with a crime or taken to a place of detention.

(B) In seeking to determine whether a disabled person suffers from an illness, a law enforcement officer may make a reasonable search for an identifying device and an identification card and examine them for emergency information. The law enforcement officer may not search for an identifying device or an identification card in a manner or to an extent that would appear to a reasonable person in the circumstances to cause an unreasonable risk of worsening the disabled person’s condition.

(C) A law enforcement officer who finds a disabled person without an identifying device or identification card is not relieved of his duty to that person to make a diligent effort to ascertain the existence of any illness causing the disabled condition.

(D) A cause of action against a law enforcement officer does not arise from his making a reasonable search of the disabled person to locate an identifying device or identification card, even though the person is not wearing an identifying device or carrying an identification card.

(E) A law enforcement officer who determines or has reason to believe that a disabled person is suffering from an illness causing his condition shall promptly notify the person’s physician, if practicable. If the officer is unable to ascertain the physician’s identity or to communicate with him, the officer shall make a reasonable effort to cause the disabled person to be transported immediately to a medical practitioner or to a facility where medical treatment is available. If the officer believes it unduly dangerous to move the disabled person, he shall make a reasonable effort to obtain the assistance of a medical practitioner.

Effective Date: 09-30-1976