Good Samaritan law - wikipedia Good Samaritan law Not to be confused with Duty to rescue. The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. ( December 2009 ) Good Samaritan laws offer legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are, or who they believe to be, injured, ill, in peril, or otherwise incapacitated. The protection is intended to reduce bystanders ' hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death. An example of such a law in common - law areas of Canada : a good Samaritan doctrine is a legal principle that prevents a rescuer who has voluntarily helped a victim in distress from being successfully sued for wrongdoing. Its purpose is to keep people from being reluctant to help a stranger in need for fear of legal repercussions should they make some mistake in treatment. By contrast, a duty to rescue law requires people to offer assistance, and holds those who fail to do so liable. Good Samaritan laws may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as do their interactions with various other legal principles, such as consent, parental rights and the right to refuse treatment. Most such laws do not apply to medical professionals ' or career emergency responders ' on - the - job conduct, but some extend protection to professional rescuers when they are acting in a volunteer capacity. The principles contained in good Samaritan laws more typically operate in countries in which the foundation of the legal system is English Common Law, such as Australia. In many countries that use civil law as the foundation for their legal systems, the same legal effect is more typically achieved using a principle of duty to rescue. Good Samaritan laws take their name from a parable found in the Bible, attributed to Jesus, commonly referred to as the Parable of the Good Samaritan which is contained in Luke 10 : 25 - 37. It recounts the aid given by a traveler from the area known as Samaria to another traveler of a conflicting religious and ethnic background who had been beaten and robbed by bandits. Contents 1 Regions 1.1 Australia 1.2 Canada 1.3 China 1.4 Finland 1.5 Germany 1.6 Ireland 1.7 Israel 1.8 United States 1.9 United Kingdom 2 Common features 2.1 Duty to Assist 2.2 Imminent Peril 2.3 Reward or Compensation 2.4 Obligation to Remain 2.5 Consent 2.5. 1 Implied consent 2.5. 2 Parental consent 2.5. 3 Laws for first responders only 3 Comparison with duty to rescue 4 See also 5 References and notes 6 External links Regions Australia Most Australian states and territories have some form of good Samaritan protection. In general these offer protection if care is made in good faith, and the `` good Samaritan '' is not impaired by drugs or alcohol. Variations exist between states, from not applying if the `` good Samaritan '' is the cause of the problem ( New South Wales ), to applying under all circumstances if the attempt is made in good faith ( Victoria ). Canada In Canada, good Samaritan acts fall under provincial jurisdiction. Each province has its own act, such as Ontario and British Columbia 's respective Good Samaritan Acts, Alberta 's Emergency Medical Aid Act, and Nova Scotia 's Volunteer Services Act Only in Quebec, a civil law jurisdiction, does a person have a general duty to respond, as detailed in the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. An example of a typical Canadian law is provided here, from Ontario 's Good Samaritan Act, 2001, section 2 : Protection from liability 2. ( 1 ) Despite the rules of common law, a person described in subsection ( 2 ) who voluntarily and without reasonable expectation of compensation or reward provides the services described in that subsection is not liable for damages that result from the person 's negligence in acting or failing to act while providing the services, unless it is established that the damages were caused by the gross negligence of the person. 2001, c. 2, s. 2 ( 1 ). Yukon and Nunavut do not have good Samaritan laws. China There have been incidents in China, such as the Peng Yu incident in 2006, where good Samaritans who helped people injured in accidents were accused of having injured the victim themselves. The death of Wang Yue was caused when the toddler was run over by two vehicles. The entire incident was caught on a video, which shows eighteen people seeing the child but refusing to help. In a November 2011 survey, a majority, 71 %, thought that the people who passed the child without helping were afraid of getting into trouble themselves. According to China Daily, `` at least 10 Party and government departments and organizations in Guangdong, including the province 's commission on politics and law, the women 's federation, the Academy of Social Sciences, and the Communist Youth League, have started discussions on punishing those who refuse to help people who clearly need it. '' Officials of Guangdong province, along with many lawyers and social workers, also held three days of meetings in the provincial capital of Guangzhou to discuss the case. It was reported that various lawmakers of the province are drafting a good Samaritan law, which would `` penalize people who fail to help in a situation of this type and indemnify them from lawsuits if their efforts are in vain. '' Legal experts and the public are debating the idea ahead of discussions and a legislative push. On 1 August 2013, the nation 's first good Samaritan law went into effect in Shenzhen. On 1 Oct 2017, China 's national Good Samaritan law came into force, Clause 184 in Civil Law General Principles. Finland The Finnish Rescue Act explicitly stipulates a duty to rescue as a `` general duty to act '' and `` engage in rescue activities according to ( one 's ) abilities ''. The Finnish Rescue Act thus includes a principle of proportionality which requires professionals to extend immediate aid further than lay persons. The Finnish Criminal Code stipulates `` Section 15 - Neglect of rescue ( 578 / 1995 ) A person who knows that another is in mortal danger or serious danger to his or her health, and does not give or procure such assistance that in view of his or her options and the nature of the situation can reasonably be expected, shall be sentenced for neglect of rescue to a fine or to imprisonment for at most six months. '' Germany In Germany, failure to provide first aid to a person in need is punishable under § 323c of its criminal penal code. However, any help one provides can not and will not be prosecuted even if it made the situation worse or did not fulfill specific first aid criteria. People are thus encouraged to help in any way possible, even if the attempt is not successful. Moreover, people providing first aid are covered by the German Statutory Accident Insurance in case they suffer injury, losses, or damages. Ireland The Civil Law ( Miscellaneous Provisions ) Act of 2011 first introduced legislation specifically addressing the liability of citizen good Samaritans or volunteers in the Republic of Ireland, without introducing a duty to intervene. This act provides for exemption from liability for a person, or voluntary organisation, for anything done while providing `` assistance, advice or care '' to a person who is injured, in serious risk or danger of becoming injured or suffering from an illness ( or apparently so ). There are exclusions for cases of `` bad faith '' or `` gross negligence '' on behalf of the carer, and incidents relating to negligent use of motor vehicles. This Act only addresses situations where there is no duty of care owed by the good Samaritan or the volunteer. Israel In Israel, the law requires anyone to assist a person in danger or at the very least call for help. People who help in good faith are not liable for damages. Helpers are eligible for compensation for damages caused to them during their assistance. United states All 50 states and the District of Columbia have some type of Good Samaritan law. The details of good Samaritan laws / acts vary by jurisdiction, including who is protected from liability and under what circumstances. The 1996 Federal Emerson Act was intended to encourage donations of food and grocery products that meet quality and labeling standards imposed by federal, state and local laws and regulations, by protecting the donor and the recipient agency against liability, excepting in the case of gross negligence and / or intentional misconduct. Prior to passage of the Emerson Act differences in language and applicability between states often discouraged national and regional companies from donating, resulting in otherwise usable food being sent to landfills. The 1998 Aviation Medical Assistance Act also provided coverage for `` Good Samaritans '' while in flight ( Section 5b ) United kingdom In the common law of England and Wales there is no criminal liability for failing to act in the event of another person being in danger ; however, there are exceptions to this rule. In instances where there has been an assumption of responsibility by the bystander, a dangerous situation was created by them, or there is a contractual or statutory duty to act, criminal liability would be imposed on the bystander for their failure to take action. The courts are reluctant to penalize people attempting rescue and English law makes provision for the actions of ' good Samaritans, ' unless their actions were grossly negligent or made a situation worse. Cases such as Donoghue v Stevenson where Lord Atkin culminates the parable of the good samaritan principle to ' love your neighbour ' transposed in law for negligence liability. Donoghue won the case. Common features Duty to assist In some jurisdictions, unless a caretaker relationship ( such as a parent - child or doctor - patient relationship ) exists prior to the illness or injury, or the `` good Samaritan '' is responsible for the existence of the illness or injury, no person is required to give aid of any sort to a victim. Good Samaritan statutes in the states of Minnesota and Vermont do require a person at the scene of an emergency to provide reasonable assistance to a person in need. This assistance may be to call 9 - 1 - 1. Violation of the duty - to - assist subdivision is a petty misdemeanor in Minnesota and may warrant a fine of up to $100 in Vermont. At least five other states, including California and Nevada, have seriously considered adding duty - to - assist subdivisions to their good Samaritan statutes. New York 's law provides immunity for those who assist in an emergency. The public policy behind the law is : The furnishing of medical assistance in an emergency is a matter of vital concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare. Prehospital emergency medical care, the provision of prompt and effective communication among ambulances and hospitals (, ) and safe and effective care and transportation of the sick and injured are essential public health services. -- N.Y. Public Health L. § 3000. Imminent peril Good Samaritan provisions are not universal in application. The legal principle of imminent peril may also apply. In the absence of imminent peril, the actions of a rescuer may be perceived by the courts to be reckless and not worthy of protection. To illustrate, a motor vehicle collision occurs, but there is no fire, no immediate life threat from injuries and no danger of a second collision. If someone, with good intentions, causes injury by pulling the victim from the wreckage, a court may rule that good Samaritan laws do not apply because the victim was not in imminent peril and hold the actions of the rescuer to be unnecessary and reckless. Reward or compensation Only first aid provided without intention of reward or financial compensation is covered. Medical professionals are typically not protected by good Samaritan laws when performing first aid in connection with their employment. Some states make specific provisions for trained medical professionals acting as volunteers and for members of volunteer rescue squads acting without expectation of remuneration. In Texas, a physician who voluntarily assisted in the delivery of an infant, and who proved that he had `` no expectation of remuneration '', had no liability for the infant 's injuries due to allegedly ordinary negligence ; there was `` uncontroverted testimony that neither he nor any doctor in Travis County would have charged a fee to ( the mother ) or any other person under the circumstances of this case. '' It was significant that the doctor was not an employee of the attending physician, but was only visiting the hospital and had responded to a `` Dr. Stork '' page, and had not asked or expected to be paid. Obligation to remain If a responder begins rendering aid, he must not leave the scene until it is necessary to call for needed medical assistance, a rescuer of equal or higher ability takes over, or continuing to give aid is unsafe. This can be as simple as a lack of adequate protection against potential diseases, such as vinyl, latex, or nitrile gloves to protect against blood - borne pathogens. A responder is never legally compelled to take risks to aid another person. The responder is not legally liable for any harm to the person assisted, as long as the responder acted rationally, in good faith and in accordance with their level of training. Consent The responder must obtain the consent of the patient, or of the legal guardian of a patient who is a minor, unless this is not possible ; failing to do so may attract a charge of assault or battery. Implied consent Main article : Implied consent Consent may be implied if an unattended patient is unconscious, delusional, intoxicated or deemed mentally unfit to make decisions regarding his or her safety, or if the responder has a reasonable belief that this was so ; courts tend to be very forgiving in adjudicating this, under the legal fiction that `` peril invites rescue '' ( as in the rescue doctrine ). The test in most jurisdictions is that of the `` average, reasonable person ''. To illustrate, would the average, reasonable person in any of the states described above consent to receiving assistance in these circumstances if able to make a decision ? Consent may also be implied if the legal parent or guardian is not immediately reachable and the patient is not considered an adult. Parental consent If the victim is a minor, consent must come from a parent or guardian. However, if the legal parent or guardian is absent, unconscious, delusional or intoxicated, consent is implied. A responder is not required to withhold life - saving treatment ( e.g., CPR or the Heimlich maneuver ) from a minor if the parent or guardian will not consent. The parent or guardian is then considered neglecting, and consent for treatment is implied by default because neglect has been committed. Special circumstances may exist if child abuse is suspected ( the courts will usually give immunity to those first responders who report what they reasonably consider to be evidence of child abuse or neglect, similar to that given to those who have an actual duty to report such abuse, such as teachers or counsellors ). Laws for first responders only In some jurisdictions, good Samaritan laws only protect those who have completed basic first aid training and are certified by health organizations, such as the American Heart Association, or American Red Cross, provided that they have acted within the scope of their training. In these jurisdictions, a person who is neither trained in first aid nor certified, and who performs first aid incorrectly, can be held legally liable for errors made. In other jurisdictions any rescuer is protected from liability so long as the responder acted rationally. In Florida, paramedics, EMTs, and Emergency Medical Responders ( First Responders ) are required by law to act under the Duty to Act law, which requires them to stop and give aid that falls within their practice. Comparison with duty to rescue Good Samaritan laws may be confused with the duty to rescue, as described above. U.S. and Canadian approaches to this issue differ. Under the common law, good Samaritan laws provide a defence against torts arising from the attempted rescue. Such laws do not constitute a duty to rescue, such as exists in some civil law countries, and in the common law under certain circumstances. However, the duty to rescue where it exists may itself imply a shield from liability ; for example, under the German law of unterlassene Hilfeleistung ( an offense not to provide first aid when necessary ), a citizen is obliged to provide first aid when necessary and is immune from prosecution if assistance given in good faith turns out to be harmful. In Canada, all provinces with the exception of Quebec operate on the basis of English Common Law. Quebec operates a civil law system, based in part on the Napoleonic Code, and the principle of duty to rescue does apply. Similarly, in France anyone who fails to render assistance to a person in danger will be found liable before French Courts ( civil and criminal liability ). The penalty for this offence in criminal courts is imprisonment and a fine ( under article 223 -- 6 of the Criminal Code ) while in civil courts judges will order payment of pecuniary compensation to the victims. To illustrate a variation in the concept of duty to rescue, in the Canadian province of Ontario, the Occupational Health and Safety Act provides all workers with the right to refuse to perform unsafe work. There are, however, specific exceptions to this right. When the `` life, health or safety of another person is at risk, '' then specific groups, including `` police officers, firefighters, or employees of a hospital, clinic or other type of medical worker ( including EMS ) '' are specifically excluded from the right to refuse unsafe work. See also Bystander effect Duty to rescue Medical amnesty policy Sanhedrin ( tractate ) References and notes Jump up ^ DAN Legal Network : The Good Samaritan Law across Europe Jump up ^ `` What are good samaritan laws ? ''. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 24. Jump up ^ Gulam H, Devereaux J ( 2007 ). `` A brief primer on Good Samaritan Law for health care professionals ''. Australian Health Review. 31 ( 3 ) : 478 -- 482. Jump up ^ Good Samaritan. ( n.d. ). Merriam - Webster 's Dictionary of Law. Retrieved January 09, 2010, from Dictionary.com website : http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Good+Samaritan Jump up ^ Bird, Sara ( July 2008 ). `` Good Samaritans '' ( PDF ). Australian Family Physician. 30 ( 7 ) : 570 -- 751. Retrieved 28 November 2017. Jump up ^ `` Good Samaritan Act, S.O., 2001 ( Ontario E-laws website ) ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Good Samaritan Act ( RSBC 1996 ) CHAPTER 172 ( British Columbia Queen 's Printer website ) ''. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Emergency Medical Aid Act ( Alberta Queen 's Printer website ''. Retrieved 2014 - 09 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Volunteer Services Act ' Good Samaritan ' RSNS 1989 ( amend. 1992 ) ( Nova Scotia Legislature website ) ''. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedom ''. Éditeur officiel du Québec. Retrieved 2012 - 07 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Good Samaritan Law from The Canadian Association of Food Banks ''. Canadian Association of Food Banks ( via Internet Archive ). Archived from the original on 2007 - 12 - 17. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Good Samaritan Act, 2001 © Queen 's Printer for Ontario, 2005 ''. Archived from the original on February 13, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2005. Jump up ^ Martinsen, Joel ( 7 September 2007 ). `` A 45,000 - yuan helping hand : common sense, decency, and crowded public transportation ''. danwei.org. Retrieved 23 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Ignored toddler does n't tell the whole story about China ''. The Globe and Mail. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Youths search their souls after Yue Yue 's death ''. China.org.cn. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011. Jump up ^ Zheng, Caixiong ( 20 October 2011 ). `` Law mulled to make aid compulsory ''. chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 23 October 2011. Jump up ^ Demick, Barbara ( 21 October 2011 ). `` Chinese toddler 's death evokes outpouring of grief and guilt ''. latimes.com. Retrieved 23 October 2011. Jump up ^ Chin, Josh ( October 22, 2011 ). `` Toddler 's Death Stirs Ire in China ''. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2011. Jump up ^ Huifeng, He ( 1 August 2013 ). `` Shenzhen introduces Good Samaritan law ''. South China Morning Post. Retrieved January 14, 2014. Jump up ^ http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1889/en18890039 Jump up ^ ( in German ) § 323c Unterlassene Hilfeleistung ( Strafgesetzbuch -- stgb ) ( Omission to effect an easy rescue ). ( in English ) English version. Jump up ^ Sozialgesetzbuch 7. § 2, § 13. Jump up ^ Section 4 of the Civil Law ( Miscellaneous Provisions ) Act 2011 ( Public Act No. 23 of 2011 ). Act of the Irish Parliament. Jump up ^ The laws include : Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Code § 5 - 603 ; VA § 8.01 - 225 ; NC § 20 - 166 and § 90 - 21.14 ; SC § 15 - 1 - 310 ; TN 63 - 6 - 218 ; GA § 51 - 1 - 29 ; Long list for 50 states : https://recreation-law.com/2014/05/28/good-samaritan-laws-by-state/ Jump up ^ AMAA, 1998 https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-105hrpt456/pdf/CRPT-105hrpt456.pdf Jump up ^ Donoghue v Stevenson ( 1932 ) AC 562, 580 ( Lord Atkin ) Jump up ^ `` Vermont Good Samaritan Law ''. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 17. Jump up ^ 604A. 01 MINNESOTA GOOD SAMARITAN LAW Jump up ^ Lyons, Donna ( 1999 - 03 - 01 ). `` Help Your Neighbor -- It 's the Law ''. State Legislatures. Archived from the original on 2007 - 09 - 07. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 20. ^ Jump up to : N.Y. Public Health L. § § 3000 - a, 3000 - b, 3013 ( McKinney 2000 ) ; see also NY State Assembly website database of law. Accessed July 25, 2011. Jump up ^ N.Y. Public Health L. § 3000 ( McKinney 2000 ) ; see also NY State Assembly website database of law. Accessed July 25, 2011. Jump up ^ `` What is the Good Samaritan Law ? ( essortment website ) ''. Archived from the original on 2008 - 12 - 05. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Good samaritan law may not apply ( USA Today ) ''. 2007 - 03 - 23. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 17. Jump up ^ See also, California Supreme Court decision in Van Horn vs. Torti, December 18, 2008, with a similar fact pattern and limitation of protection to medical personnel rendering medical aid. Jump up ^ `` RCW 4.24. 300 Immunity from liability for certain types of medical care ( Washington State Legislature website ) ''. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Colorado Good Samaritan Law ''. Archived from the original on 2008 - 07 - 23. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 17. ^ Jump up to : McIntyre v. Ramirez, 109 S.W. 3d 741 ( Tex. Sup. Ct. 2003 ), overturning 59 S.W. 3d 821 ( Tex. Ct. of Appeals ) and citing Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 74.001 ( effective in 1998, and since amended ), found at Texas Courts website. Accessed July 25, 2011. Jump up ^ Rolfsen ML ( 2007 ). `` Medical care provided during a disaster should be immune from liability or criminal prosecution ''. The Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society. 159 ( 4 ) : 224 -- 5, 227 -- 9. PMID 17987961. Jump up ^ `` Implied Consent ''. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 17. Jump up ^ Foltin GL, Lucky C, Portelli I, et al. ( June 2008 ). `` Overcoming legal obstacles involving the voluntary care of children who are separated from their legal guardians during a disaster ''. Pediatric Emergency Care. 24 ( 6 ) : 392 -- 8. doi : 10.1097 / PEC. 0b013e318178c05d. PMID 18562886. Jump up ^ `` Good Samaritan / Fireman 's Rule ''. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 17. Jump up ^ Higuchi N ( March 2008 ). `` ( Good Samaritan Act and physicians ' duty to rescue ) ''. Nippon Hoshasen Gijutsu Gakkai zasshi ( in Japanese ). 64 ( 3 ) : 382 -- 4. doi : 10.6009 / jjrt. 64.382. PMID 18434681. Jump up ^ `` Canadian Law website 2 ''. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ Audrey Laur ( March 2013 ). `` Liabilities of Doctors on Aircraft ''. Medico - Legal Journal. 81 : 31 -- 35. Jump up ^ `` Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. ( 1990 ) ( Ontario E-laws website ) ''. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 10. External links Summary of good samaritan laws for various US jurisdictions Good Samaritan Act of Ontario, 2001 Good Samaritan Law Good Samaritan Day hide Emergency medical services around the world Emergency medical services by country Austria Australia Brazil Canada Finland France Germany Hong Kong Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Portugal Spain South Africa Sri Lanka Ukraine United Kingdom United States Paramedics by country Australia Canada Germany Ireland United Kingdom United States hide First aid Techniques Abdominal thrusts Airway management Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Emergency bleeding control Equipment Automated external defibrillator Bag valve mask Bandage Dressing First aid kit Nasopharyngeal airway Oropharyngeal airway Mnemonics ABC DCAP - BTLS OPQRST RICE SAMPLE SOAP Certifications Certified first responder Emergency medical technician Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician Topics Bleeding Golden hour Good Samaritan law Wilderness medicine Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Good_Samaritan_law&oldid=843385324 '' Categories : Public law First aid Medical law Hidden categories : Articles with German - language external links Articles containing German - language text CS1 Japanese - language sources ( ja ) Articles with limited geographic scope from December 2009 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from June 2013 All articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases Articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases from May 2012 Articles with unsourced statements from December 2009 Articles with unsourced statements from May 2013 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español فارسی Français 한국어 עברית Lietuvių 日本 語 Русский 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 28 May 2018, at 20 : 16. 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Question: what is the purpose of good samaritan laws
Answer: offer legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are, or who they believe to be, injured, ill, in peril, or otherwise incapacitated