Good Samaritan law
Bystander immunity statute
A Good Samaritan law protects people who assist others in emergencies from legal liability.
Named for the biblical parable, these laws encourage bystanders to help—performing CPR, calling for help, administering naloxone—without fear of being sued if something goes wrong.
Most jurisdictions have some version: The Good Samaritan law shielded her from liability after she pulled him from the burning car.
Protected from harm
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- statuteEnacted written rule
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- tortActionable civil harm
bystander · defendant · plaintiff · litigation · legislation · codification · enactment · precedent
Required moral task
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- moral obligationEthics-based required action
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- civic dutyObligation owed to community
responsibility · altruism · benevolence · humanitarianism · intervention · bystander effect · moral courage
Initial injury treatment
- CPREmergency revival technique
- rescueSave from harm
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- paramedicPrehospital emergency caregiver
ambulance · lifesaving · 911 · AED · choking · bleeding · cardiac arrest · overdose
Handheld defensive armor
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- harborSafe anchorage for ships
- exemptionRelease from requirement
- nonliabilityExemption from legal responsibility
defense · coverage · insulation · shelter · security · safe harbor · legal protection · liability shield
immunity
Protected from harm
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- statuteEnacted written rule
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
tort · bystander · defendant · plaintiff · litigation · legislation · codification · enactment · precedent · jurisprudence
duty
Required moral task
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- moral obligationEthics-based required action
- conscienceInternal moral sense
civic duty · responsibility · altruism · benevolence · humanitarianism · intervention · bystander effect · moral courage
first aid
Initial injury treatment
paramedic · ambulance · lifesaving · 911 · AED · choking · bleeding · cardiac arrest · overdose · accident scene
shield
Handheld defensive armor
nonliability · defense · coverage · insulation · shelter · security · safe harbor · legal protection · liability shield
- emergency help911, ambulance, EMT, paramedic, paramedics
- neglectneglect, neglected, abandonment, carelessness, disregard
- Emergency Lawemergency powers, emergency declaration, state of emergency, evacuation order, curfew law
Good Samaritan lawdepraved indifference
Criminal disregard for life
abandonment · criminal negligence · reckless endangerment · bystander effect · non-intervention