Good Samaritan, Think Twice

[Barbossa]

OK. Next time I see someone who's not family in a burning car, I think I'll keep walking:

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=6498405&page=1

 

[Magic Mom]

How awful.

 

[KikiFan]

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of. Doesn't that contradict the "good samaritan" laws? Aren't you legally required to stop and "render aid?"

 

[Bluestars]

That's disturbing.

 

[IWantMickey]

That is ubelievable! Hopefully it gets tossed out of court or at least that a jury can make the correct call.

 

[sha_lyn]

That reminds me about a man I met many yrs ago. Back in the early 70s he was driving a garbage truck I believe. He came upon the scene of a very bad car accident with police etc on the scene. The car was several ft down an embankment on its roof and he could see flames coming from the car. The police were running up the bank and he could hear someone in the car screaming. He jumped out and said something to the officers about the girl trapped in the car to which they said the car was about to explode and they couldn't get her out. The man ran down the hill to find that the girls left hand was trapped. He tried to get her loose but couldn't. She was begging him to get her out before she burned to death. He told her to turn her head, he then wrapped his belt around her arm took out his hunting knife and cut off he hand and pulled her from the car and up the hill.
The police had the nerve to arrest him for attempted murder. The girl lived and testified on his behalf in court. He was found not guilty.

 

[EveDallas]

Good lord! With friends like that, you don't need enemies.

 

[RUDisney]

One of the first things that we were taught in CPR class was that you cannot be sued for helping someone. Hmm, I guess this case contradicts what I was told.

 

[Stacerita]

I heard this on the news this morning. And it was saying something that if you are helping someone medically (such as CPR) and you do it properly, then you fall under the "Good Samaritian" law. If you do something and don't do it properly, like evacuating someone from a buring car, and cause them injury, you will be held liable. I think its horrible that people who are wanting to help others won't because they don't want to get sued.

 

[Pomlover2586]

By law you are NOT required to help. You can see a person in need and walk away. HOWEVER if you do help them in any way you MUST remain with the person until paramedics, police etc arrive and tell them your name etc. HTH

 

[browneyes106]

This is horrible all around. The friend had no bad intentions and she did what she did out of panic. I hope somehow they get resolved civilly.

 

[GeorgeG]

I believe the "Good Samaritan" law only protects you if your actions fall within the scope of your training. If you've had training in First Aid, CPR, or are a licensed EMT, Paramedic, Nurse or Doctor you are covered as long as you don't exceed your training. That makes sense up the point of having a moral responsibility of trying to help a fellow human being. Unfortunately, human behavior is someing the law hasn't been able to understand as welll as we'd like.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Sad lawsuit, but any potential concerns of being sued for helping someone who I thought truly needed help in a life threatening situation wouldn't stop me from trying my hardest to save that person's life. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I knew that I was in a position to give aid and I let that person, even a stranger, die. If you want to sue me in court after, bring it on.

 

[Serena]

That is the stupidest thing I ever heard. You should absolutely be protected in trying to help someone.

 

[kirbsam]

Sad lawsuit, but any potential concerns of being sued for helping someone who I thought truly needed help in a life threatening situation wouldn't stop me from trying my hardest to save that person's life. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I knew that I was in a position to give aid and I let that person, even a stranger, die. If you want to sue me in court after, bring it on.

agree. nice post.

 

[terri01p]

People are amazing aren't they

Off topic but my neighbor down the steet went to London for three weeks, and the neighbor next store to them started noticing that water was flooding out from under their front door he knocked their window out and found the toliet ws pouring water for at least a week, he fixed it for them, when the people came back from London they sued him for the cost of the window in small claims court and won....

Goodness!

 

[Stacerita]

People are amazing aren't they

Off topic but my neighbor down the steet went to London for three weeks, and the neighbor next store to them started noticing that water was flooding out from under their front door he knocked their window out and found the toliet ws pouring water for at least a week, he fixed it for them, when the people came back from London they sued him for the cost of the window in small claims court and won....

Goodness!

Some people. Instead of thanking him, they go and sue him???

 

[SeeVee]

That reminds me about a man I met many yrs ago. Back in the early 70s he was driving a garbage truck I believe. He came upon the scene of a very bad car accident with police etc on the scene. The car was several ft down an embankment on its roof and he could see flames coming from the car. The police were running up the bank and he could hear someone in the car screaming. He jumped out and said something to the officers about the girl trapped in the car to which they said the car was about to explode and they couldn't get her out. The man ran down the hill to find that the girls left hand was trapped. He tried to get her loose but couldn't. She was begging him to get her out before she burned to death. He told her to turn her head, he then wrapped his belt around her arm took out his hunting knife and cut off he hand and pulled her from the car and up the hill.
The police had the nerve to arrest him for attempted murder. The girl lived and testified on his behalf in court. He was found not guilty.

And you believe that one?

 

[browneyes106]

I believe the "Good Samaritan" law only protects you if your actions fall within the scope of your training. If you've had training in First Aid, CPR, or are a licensed EMT, Paramedic, Nurse or Doctor you are covered as long as you don't exceed your training. That makes sense up the point of having a moral responsibility of trying to help a fellow human being. Unfortunately, human behavior is someing the law hasn't been able to understand as welll as we'd like.

One of my friends who is a nurse told me the same thing. She also said that if anything happens legally after assisting someone to show proof of training.

 

[chager]

Dh and I have had discussions in the past about what we would do in a situation like this. Being the type of person I am I said help, he said no way. This case is just an example of why he is right! SO as he continues on without helping he willstate that we can't afford the possiblity of being sued and to talk to the young lady that pathed the path by suing her rescuer. In reading the comments on the webpage of the article it appears most people support the rescuer. I wonder if the "victim" has read any of the comments and how she feels about them.
I guess the thing that really bothers me is she says something about her life be ruined becuase she is in a wheelchair. Sounds to me like she needs some counselling to accept the curveball she was thrown. I know ALOT of people in wheelchairs and they are leading successful happy lives. Not always easy, but they are happy.