Do you think sueing a rescuer for cracking your ribs during CPR is immoral?

Question

I think it's both ungrateful and immoral.Does this sort of thing happen before?Did the Good Samaritan Law has it's own weaknesses in protecting the rescuer's rights even if the rescuer has a legal CPR card and a CPR certificate that proofs it?If something bad happened to you,will you sue the person that saves your life just for a crack on your ribs?

Answer 1

I think that any one who is still alive, thanks to a person rendering First Aid, and is trying to sue their rescuer is greedy.

Fact
NO PERSON IN AUSTRALIA HAS EVER BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SUED, FOR RENDERING ASSISTANCE TO SOME ONE IN NEED. Possibly any where else in the world.

This includes rendering first aid to the sick or the injured.

The Law/Legislation basically states that "if you have rendered assistance to someone who is in need, and you do every thing your power to ASSIST them and SAVE their lives, then you are covered by the GOOD SAMARITAN Law/Legislation".

The victim would have to prove that he/she was hurt through the rescuers negligence, and or incompetency in rendering assistance. And would need some reliable witnesses, and medical professionals to back up their claim.

If someones ribs are broken during CPR then it is very unlikely that the rescued could successfully sue their rescuer. (some lousy poeple have tried and failed). Hence the "Good Samaritan Law/Legislation" The judge would find in favour of the rescuer, due the rescued being alive thanks to the rescuers intervention.

However if some one causes an accident then renders assistance, they are liable both for the accident and his/her actions during 1st Aid assistance. This includes being under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Then they will NOT be covered by the 'Good Samaritan Law/Legislation".

Hopes this clarifies your question, keeping in mind the Good Samaritan Law/Legislation may vary from country to country, but is basically the same.

You might be interested to know that if in France it is illegal not to render assistance to someone in need. And could be sued for not helping.

Answer 2

The Good Samaritan Law was designed to protect the general public from reprocussions of attempting to perform what they perceive to be lifesaving measures without formal training in first aid and cpr. In response then, yes is immoral and would likely be thrown out of a court. But at the same rate, I have yet to find a time that I have performed cpr and not "cracked a rib or two", but more often then not, usually you are just separating the sternum from the rib cage at the cartilage. And if you don't hear that sound, you are probably not doing deep enough or effective compressions on the person.

Answer 3

I personally find it offensive to think someone would be so low as to sue the person who kept them alive. But people will try just to gain a fast buck. If they were to be successful in suing someone, it would change the way we would assist someone in any given scenario.

One of the things I learnt in first aid was that any attempt of CPR is better than none, and if you break a rib, stop briefly and reposition your hands, making sure you notify the ambulance officers you may have broken a rib.

As someone said, Georgie I think?
"The victim would have to prove that he/she was hurt through the rescuers negligence, and or incompetency in rendering assistance. And would need some reliable witnesses, and medical professionals to back up their claim.

If someones ribs are broken during CPR then it is very unlikely that the rescued could successfully sue their rescuer. (some lousy people have tried and failed). Hence the "Good Samaritan Law/Legislation" The judge would find in favour of the rescuer, due the rescued being alive thanks to the rescuers intervention."

I would be inclined to believe the above comments, especially if you have done the best in the worst situation.


After all broken ribs can heal, death is permanent.

Answer 4

Cpr Breaking Ribs

Answer 5

You can't sue someone for cracking your ribs during CPR. First off, that's normal for CPR. Second, there are good samaritan laws like you mention. Third, what they told us when I took the CPR class was that you only do CPR on dead people (ie, their heart is stopped, they aren't breathing), and you can't injure a dead person.

Answer 6

they said that you are a good rescuer if you crack a rib during cpr but that is not a good reason to sue them for it always happen during cpr that a rib is being broken it will heal as long as you are alive.

Answer 7

CPR and cracked ribs go hand in hand.

You COULD sue for wrongful death from crushing the sternum...however, as anyone who knows CPR knows, you don't get near the sternum doing chest compressions.

Though painful, cracked ribs go with the territory...but I think I'd gladly take the pain of cracked ribs vs. dying (and I've had broken and cracked ribs...the pain is HORRIBLE).

Answer 8

yes..they were trying to save a life..not hurt someone..this is the reason for the good samaritan clause..the only ones exempt are people in the medical field since they are trained to know better (not just the standard cpr/first aid that most of us have probably taken). I have a 'card' but that is from a one day class..not the trianing that medical professionals have.

Answer 9

I think it is awful. If no one performs CPR in the first place then people would be dead and not able to sue anyone. People don't think about that anymore - they just want to make a quit buck off of someone else's good or bad intentions.

Answer 10

I think that is the WORST thing you can do to anyone. If they didnt perform CPR, then you wouldnt be alive genius! They saved your life at a cost...yes. But it was no intentional to crack your ribs. Besides, sometimes its because of weak bone structure or w/e. But no argument can suffice for WHY it broke...the fact that they saved your life should be enough.

Sadly the Good Semeritan law has to protect that perosn against idiots like yourself who think they should just sue someone for SAVING YOUR LIFE. I hope you burn in hell for even thinking of suing them...no joke. And you most likely will. One of the commandments states to "Forgive thy neighbor." But seirously...forgive them for brekaing your ribs AT THE COST of saving your life.

NOTE**I just reread this...and I don't know if you are the person being sued or not. But if you are the peron who saved the others life...I pray that you get a good lawyer. And if I were you...your best bet is to take it to the media. Local, state, national, EVERYONE. They eat this kind of stuff....and it will work in your favor because it will make the other perosn look like an idiot. Then find out where the perosn goes to church and their job...and bring it up with them. Tell the church pastor about it....and tell their boss about it. And tell their "boss" that you are taking it to the media, and it might reflect on the character of the business. They will most likely push that person to drop the charges.