I post this in response to this question:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlqYT06l3GL4CPdWlogXaRnsy6IX?qid=20070709091509AAgaLS6&show=7#profile-info-HNsxuLpqaa
I realize that the person is a troll trying to envoke rage. But This topic actually happens. As I stated in my response a woman (LaShanda Calloway) was stabbed in a store on june 23rd and a total of 12 people walked over her while she was bleeding on the floor, one even stopped to take pictures on his cell phone. This happens all the time in this country, The term sociologist coined is "by-stander apathy", or the incident where someone is in obvious distress and people around them just continue to walk away oblivious to the pain and suffering of others.
Okay so my question is, should we have some sort of "good Samaritan law", that requires people to lend a hand to those in trouble? What are your views as to why people seem so uncaring to their fellow man.
2007-07-09 05:43:18 · 13 answers · asked by ? 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
maybe I shouldn't have said "law", but do you think that more can be done to stop this sort of thing from happening. Great responses by the way, I didn't know there was already a good samaritan law (i'm a bit nieve when it comes to laws).
2007-07-09 05:54:01 · update #1
I think people are apprehensive to get involved because of our justice system. If our Justice system concentrated on the victims of crimes instead of the perps, people would be more inclined to get involved.
The liberal attitude in this country is to protect the rights of criminals because "all the judges and everyone in power is corrupt." so what happens is, when these cases go to court the victims (and witnessess) get victimized again.
2007-07-09 05:55:45 · answer #1 · answered by osborne_pkg 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You might want to rephrase the term "Good Samaritan law". A "Good Samaritan law" already exists...It is a form of tort law that protects Physicians form negligence suits when rendering on site (not in ER) aid to those in a major accident such as a car wreck.
2016-04-01 05:12:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A "good Samaritan law" is not what most people think it is.
It is a civil protection if you decide to help someone, preventing you from being sued by the person you try to help if your assistance accidentally makes things worse.
It is constitutionally impossible to pass a law REQUIRING people to voluntarily render assistance. Not only is it impossible to draft without being vague and overbroad, but it is impossible to enforce. This idea has been bandied about for centuries, and it just does not work. You cannot force someone to render assistance to another person, unless there is already an existing duty (see long essays on tort law and the duties of authority for details).
2007-07-09 06:05:17 · answer #3 · answered by coragryph 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Thanks for making this a serious question. I didn't bother with the other one.
It's a shame that we need to consider laws like this. So a law would only treat the symptoms and not be a cure. The cure is teaching people a core set of values. I don't care if we teach them at home, in the church, or at school, but there are values that we can agree upon that we should instill in all in this society.
A sample of values that we could start with:
1. We don't lie, steal, or cheat or tolerate those that do.
2. We are stronger together than apart.
Those values don't contradict any religion and provide a foundation for our society.
2007-07-09 06:02:47 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm an EMT/CNA and I know that if I walk past a hurt person I would be going against all of my training. But I have laws to protect me if the individual or family of the individual tries to sue me. I think we need some kind of law that will protect civilians from this before we make them help.
2007-07-09 05:55:10 · answer #5 · answered by smile101 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It shouldn't be a law. I think the circumstances determine if someone helps someone in trouble. I wouldn't stop in South Chicago or East LA to prevent some gang banger from smacking around his girlfriend..would you?
I would help a stabbing victim in a Public mall though.
2007-07-09 05:49:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, your terms are wrong. A 'Good Samaritan' law refers to a law designed to protect those that CHOOSE to help from lawsuits by those they helped if they make a mistake. If I give you CPR and crack a rib, I shouldn't be charged with medical malpractice. Barring such lawsuits would do much more to aid victims than laws requiring UNTRAINED people to attempt to aid others.
2007-07-09 06:16:14 · answer #7 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is one, in a way.
Technically, if she were to die due to someone not assisting her, but witnessing the acts or seeing that she needs help and not doing anything, one could be an accessory after the fact. And I think that is much worse than any penalty a "good samaritian" law could do.
Besides, if we have to legislate common sense, I think something is definitely wrong in this nation. I think those people all should be tried and convicted as accomplices to murder/attempted murder. And then throw them in prison and throw away the key.
2007-07-09 05:50:45 · answer #8 · answered by volleyballchick (cowards block) 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
there are good Samaritan laws on the books in many states already, but they pertain to people that render aid to a victim, and not getting sued by the victim if the aid rendered causes unintended harm. you cannot though force people to render aid if they choose not to, that has to be voluntary.
2007-07-09 05:55:41 · answer #9 · answered by richard b 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How would you enforce it? What would be the punishment for standing by? What counts as standing by? What if the person in pain had a gun, would you be forced to help them anyway?
It's sick that society is like this, but I don't think you can enforce people to be kind - they just have to do it.
2007-07-09 05:47:22 · answer #10 · answered by Mordent 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋