Good Samaritan laws

E251085

Good Samaritan laws are legal provisions that protect individuals from liability when they voluntarily provide reasonable assistance to those who are injured or in danger.

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All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Good Samaritan laws canonical 1

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf legal doctrine
statutory protection
tort law concept
aimsTo increase likelihood of timely emergency intervention
protect public health and safety
appliesTo bystanders who voluntarily provide aid
lay rescuers without formal medical training
off-duty medical professionals in many jurisdictions
assumes rescuers act without intent to harm
conditionedOn aid being provided in good faith
aid being provided voluntarily
aid being provided without expectation of compensation
aid being reasonable under the circumstances
no gross negligence by the rescuer
no willful or wanton misconduct by the rescuer
distinguishedFrom mandatory duty-to-rescue obligations
hasPurpose to encourage bystanders to assist people in danger or distress
to limit civil liability for rescuers
historicalDevelopment expanded in many places with growth of CPR and AED programs
implementedAs judicial doctrines in some legal systems
specific statutes in many jurisdictions
influencedBy moral concept of the Good Samaritan from the Christian Bible
jurisdiction Australia
Canada
United Kingdom (limited and context-specific protections)
United States of America
surface form: United States

many European countries
legalEffect provides immunity from certain civil lawsuits
reduces fear of legal consequences for helping
mayExclude acts performed with reckless disregard for safety
aid given while intoxicated or impaired
situations where a pre-existing duty to act exists
mayProvide criminal immunity in some overdose response statutes
mayRequire rescuer to hand over care when professionals arrive
rescuer to stay within scope of their training
oftenCovers cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
emergency assistance during medical crises
first aid rendered at accident scenes
use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
policyRationale overcoming bystander hesitation due to fear of lawsuits
promoting social solidarity and mutual aid
regulates liability of individuals who render emergency assistance
relatedTo duty to rescue laws
emergency medical services law
negligence law
public health policy
variesBy country
state or province within federal systems

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

parable of the Good Samaritan influencedConcept Good Samaritan laws
subject surface form: Parable of the Good Samaritan