Man hit by car. No one helps or calls 911.

[Stolen Rutters]

nevermind... I just realized my post looked like I'm defending the people who use the so called law as an excuse to not do anything to help... edit - and it was quoted... ok I'll put it back.

"In most jurisdictions, Good Samaritan laws only protect those that have had basic first aid training and are certified by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, American Safety and Health Institute or other health organization. In other jurisdictions, any rescuer is protected from liability, granted the responder acted rationally."

I'm guessing you live in one of those "other jurisdictions".

 

[JollyRoger]

"In most jurisdictions, Good Samaritan laws only protect those that have had basic first aid training and are certified by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, American Safety and Health Institute or other health organization. In other jurisdictions, any rescuer is protected from liability, granted the responder acted rationally."

I'm guessing you live in one of those "other jurisdictions".

I'm guessing that lawyers have a field day with the part I bolded, so even states with Good Samaritan laws leave one open to being sued.

 

[Bigfoot3814]

Well, thanks to laws protecting the weak and stupid, somebody could sue you for so much as looking at them funny. Either way, I don't think the threat of being sued is what prevented anyone from acting in this situation.

 

[GoodGame]

Sounds like a lame excuse for being indifferent during a medical emergency.

By-stander effect. Genovese effect. Etc.

This story has less to do with our "moral compass" than our psychological behavior.

 

[Neomega]

About a month ago, a mans motorized wheelchair obviously ran out of juice near the University of Washington.

I waited on one side of the street, waiting for the walk signal, then crossed, and spent about 45 minutes pushing him around town. Probably about the 15th person to come by him, but the first to ask if he needed help.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I don't know what your law background is but I took a business law course that directly contradicts what you said. If you are not certified to help, and your actions cause further injury, you can be held liable for the injury. Asking them what hurts and what doesn't doesn't give you the medical expertise to know how to respond. And what if the victim was unconscious?

So yes, you would be at fault for "helping" an injured person if you are not certified to do so and your actions cause further injuries.

And to all of you outraged and concerned citizens, what could an ordinary person do to help the situation? Go talk to him? Ask him "Are you OK, dude?"

well in my state we have good Samaritan laws so i can do just about whatever except CPR(since I'm not certified). but that's a state law so it will vary from state to state.

other than that its just a bad idea to move an injured man unless you have to and the people did what they should have call 911 and stay out of the way.

I don't think a dying man cares what the law says, and neither do I. If by my actions, I can save a life, be those actions legal or otherwise, I will do so, and anyone who would stand by and let a man die because they don't want to get sued is despicable and is in need of a serious reorganization of their priorities.

 

[Cutlass]

If you see a man badly injured in front of you, I would think that unless you've been trained to respond, then the combination of shock and not knowing the proper thing to do, would cause a great many people to hesitate at least for a short time.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Hesitation is not the same as indifference. At least in your scenario, there is a will to help.

 

[Cutlass]

There wasn't any indication of indifference. 4 people immediately called 911 and the video didn't last a lot longer. Still, that is a bad neighborhood (yes, I have been there), and that usually can be expected lower people's amount of caring.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

You're still trying to justify and rationalize the actions of the many people on that road, both in cars and on foot (come on, there were more than four people who saw this man, or saw it happen). Stop defending these selfish, morally corrupt people and their heartless actions.

 

[Trajan12]

You can't defend these people but you at the same time can't blame a person who wants to do something but doesn't know what to do if they don't do much more than try to get attention or call 911. If a person does at least that, I don't think they can be blamed.

Don't most people have first aid training anyway? I got that in high school...I may not be able to help a guy who's gotten a leg severed, but I could wrap and elevate a wound.

 

[Cutlass]

I just think that if you look at the whole story, the "indifference" that actually happened is overstated from the actual events.