Apparently being a Good Samaritan is not so Good after all?
Posted by Sean on December 20, 2008
ABC News: Woman Sued for Rescue Effort in Car Crash
They are intended to reduce bystanders’ hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death.
It seems that they are attempting to redefine the wording and definition of this law. Now Good Samaritans are only immune to unintended harm if they are providing medical care, not just simple safety assistance.
So if you are providing CPR you are not liable, but if you are pulling someone out of a fire, or a pool of water, and they get injured unintentionally. You can be sued.
I am a Red Cross volunteer, and I am an instructor for a myriad of classes, including First-Aid, CPR, etc. This is THE issue that has all of the pubic concerned.
If this really does happen. If this poor woman is found guilty in any way. I predict this will have a profound effect on how bystanders will view and act in future emergencies. And it will have a grave effect on the outcome of emergencies as we know it.
I fully understand why this woman is jaded and wants some validation for her injuries, but the reality is, it was an ACCIDENT. How can you truly justify that an innocent bystander (who was a co-worker!) INTENDED to cause you harm while trying to help you in your time of need.
Wow.
Carpe Diem
Strong One said
@ raidz Yes friend, and coworker.
Strong One said
@ raidz Yes friend, and coworker.
raidz said
How ridiculous is this. This makes my blood boil. This woman should have left this person in the car and watched it burn.Worst thing is that it is the Good Samaritans FRIEND who is suing!
raidz said
How ridiculous is this. This makes my blood boil. This woman should have left this person in the car and watched it burn.Worst thing is that it is the Good Samaritans FRIEND who is suing!
Strong One said
@ Caroline Yes, Crap is a nice way of putting it!
Strong One said
@ Caroline Yes, Crap is a nice way of putting it!
Caroline said
I believe the Good Sam laws actually vary state to state, as well as in conjunction with your state board of nursing and nurse practice act. It’s really crap, isn’t it?
Caroline said
I believe the Good Sam laws actually vary state to state, as well as in conjunction with your state board of nursing and nurse practice act. It’s really crap, isn’t it?
Strong One said
@ GiggleMed VERY WELL STATED. I’m right there with you. And your pt story.. too funny. ;o
Strong One said
@ GiggleMed VERY WELL STATED. I’m right there with you. And your pt story.. too funny. ;o
GiggleMed said
I appreciate this post.
This kind of stuff disgusts me. It’s making so many people jaded and so many others into opportunists. What ever happened to assuming the best in someone else’s actions?… assuming good intentions first?
In health care this kind of stuff leads to burnout, distrust, frustration, and CYA protocols. The Cover Your A(rear end) protocols of “if you didn’t document, you didn’t do it”, “doctor aware”, ” I d/w patient’s nurse”, etc… all come out of a culture of distrust, assuming the worst, and the “me, me, me” attitude. It leads to more forms, more check boxes, more oversight, and more busy work… and guess what… less time actually taking care of patients.
I don’t know how people can sleep at night after suing someone for intending to help them.
Anyway, to end on a funny note… what do you think I was thinking when my patient told me that she had a history of a “tubal litigation”? (Ding, ding, ding! Warning! Warning!)
GiggleMed said
I appreciate this post.
This kind of stuff disgusts me. It’s making so many people jaded and so many others into opportunists. What ever happened to assuming the best in someone else’s actions?… assuming good intentions first?
In health care this kind of stuff leads to burnout, distrust, frustration, and CYA protocols. The Cover Your A(rear end) protocols of “if you didn’t document, you didn’t do it”, “doctor aware”, ” I d/w patient’s nurse”, etc… all come out of a culture of distrust, assuming the worst, and the “me, me, me” attitude. It leads to more forms, more check boxes, more oversight, and more busy work… and guess what… less time actually taking care of patients.
I don’t know how people can sleep at night after suing someone for intending to help them.
Anyway, to end on a funny note… what do you think I was thinking when my patient told me that she had a history of a “tubal litigation”? (Ding, ding, ding! Warning! Warning!)
Strong One said
@ Karin RN Yes to all the above. It’s disheartening.
Strong One said
@ Karin RN Yes to all the above. It’s disheartening.
Karin RN said
Difficult issue. Some people just like to sue? Some are ungrateful? Some are … I don’t know. You fill it in,
Karin RN’s last blog post..Postpone the Holidays
Karin RN said
Difficult issue. Some people just like to sue? Some are ungrateful? Some are … I don’t know. You fill it in,
Karin RN’s last blog post..Postpone the Holidays