Therefore, in medical malpractice cases against governmental entities, the most relevant consideration is the cap on damages that can be collected from a governmental entity in cases where the government is not immune. Utah Code Ann. These damage caps have been held to be unconstitutional as they apply to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. There are procedural restrictions on actions against governmental entities, including the requirement of notice within one year of the time the claim arises. Utah Code Ann.
Governmental entities are immune from punitive damages.
Utah Code Ann. Health care professionals have immunity from liability for care provided gratuitously at the scene of an emergency, unless they have a legal duty to respond. Utah Code Ann. This immunity can even extend to a doctor responding to an emergency in the hospital that employs him, so long as this was not one of his duties. Health care professionals have a qualified immunity for care provided without remuneration at a charitable clinic.