During a full arrest, if you are unable to defibrillate because the device won't charge and the patient later dies, what could the family sue you for?

In this scenario, the family could potentially sue for negligence because it pertains to the failure to provide an acceptable standard of care that a competent paramedic would uphold during a critical situation like a full arrest. Negligence in this context refers to a breach of duty that results in harm. If the equipment was malfunctioning and it could be demonstrated that proper maintenance or checks were not performed prior to the emergency or during the care of the patient, this could indicate a failure to act as a prudent emergency medical provider.

For the family to successfully claim negligence, they would need to establish that the paramedics had a duty to provide care, that there was a breach of that duty by not being able to properly use the defibrillator due to its failure to charge, that this breach directly contributed to the patient's death, and that there were damages as a result. Such a lawsuit would focus on the procedural and operational standards expected of medical personnel, rather than malicious intent or physical misconduct, which is why negligence is the most applicable legal basis in this situation.