There is probably no fast hard answer to that scenario. You can be sued for your actions, good or bad, if you have a sympathetic jury and/or a good lawyer, most likely the principal of “life over limb” will prevail and no monetary judgment will be made against you.

However, if it can be shown that your Boy Scout training (Standard of Care) indicated that the tourniquet should be tighten only to stem the bleeding or that it was to be loosened every 30 minutes and you yanked down on that tourniquet beyond reason or you failed to release the tourniquet periodically based upon your training you might be found responsible. You might also run into trouble if the current Standard of Care was significantly different from your aged training.

As part of our biannual training we are required to have modules on medical-legal responsibilities and requirements. One of the most important lessons we are given is the importance of bedside manner or patient courtesy. Studies have shown that Paramedics who are perceived by the patient to be courteous, caring and compassionate, regardless of the quality of care provided, receive fewer complaints and are sued less frequently, then ones who provide high quality care but are rude or uncaring.

Pete