FAQ: Good Samaritan Law

1.  What is the purpose of the Good Samaritan Law?

The purpose of the Good Samaritan Law is to protect individuals that assist a victim during a medical emergency.  Most Good Samaritan laws are created specifically for the general public.  The law assumes that there is no medically trained person available to assist the victim.  Since the Good Samaritan typically does not have medical training, the law protects him or her from being liable from injury or death caused to the victim during a medical emergency.  

2.  Who is protected by the Good Samaritan Law?

Each law protects different individuals.  A general layperson is protected under the Good Samaritan laws as long as he or she has good intentions to aid the victim to the best of his or her ability during a medical emergency.  Under some Good Samaritan Laws, as long as medical personnel, such as doctors, nurses, or medical responders, are following normal proceeders, they too will be proctected under the Good Samaritan laws.  Each law has specific guidelines.

3.  Does the victim or the victim's family have any rights against a responder that causes injuries or death?

The victim or the victim's family does have rights if malicious intent was committed during the medical emergency.  If there was no malicious intent, then the individual who aided the victim should be covered under the Good Samaritan Law for that state.

Click on any state to see that State Law.