Unless you are a medical professional (and you are acting in that capacity (a 3 hour CPR course doesn't count)), you don't need to obtain "consent to treat." An

Unless you are a medical professional (and you are acting in that capacity (a 3 hour CPR course doesn't count)), you don't need to obtain "consent to treat." And even if you are a medical professional, Implied Consent would be a pretty easy argument to make in the case of a non-verbal patient. Good Samaritan laws are 1000% in favor of the rescuer (especially if that rescuer is a lay person). TL;DR; If you are familiar with the Heimlich Maneuver, and you see someone who is choking (can't speak or cough, clutching their throat, etc), _please_ don't hesitate to act.