are there any laws that require a person to help someone in an emergency situation?

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queenB_811

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I have to do this assignment for my class, are there any laws (PA specifically) that requires a person to assist someone and get them immediate help when they are hurt, or having medical complications, or any type of emergency? Are there any consequences if a person delays getting someone medical care if it is needed immediately? Where could I find this info, having hard time researching it. Thanks!
What I need to know is if there are any laws that require you to help someone who is in obvious need of immediate emergency medical attention and if you can be held liable for delaying care. This is for an assignment, this not for an actual event so please do not provide me answers telling me i did something wrong, or "would i feel bad for not helping" (Marshfield's answer) Thanks for your help... i cant wait to get this assignment over with!
 
No you are not required to act. However if you are a first responder, or have some type of medical license the Good Samaritan Law helps one from being sued due to the actions that they took.
 
If you have had any medical training you are required by law to assist in the case of an accident or an emergency. If you see an accident and fail to call for assistance and it can be proved you had the ability to do so you can be charged for failure to report.

More importantly - how could you live with yourself if you knew that your failure to help someone resulted in their death because of your inaction? Should we rely upon laws to do the decent thing or should we just do the right thing without being told? What if you were the one needing help, or your mother or younger sibling? Do we need laws to dictate morality?

You might contact a local judge or attorney for specific information.

PS Good Samaritan laws prevent someone you have helped from suing you provided you have not tried to perform procedured you have not been trained to do. ie do CPR without training, do a tracheotomy without specific instructions from 911 or such, pull someone from a car that is not burning or tettering over the edge of a precipice, etc.
 
I don't believe that their are any legal laws that require people to assist/help someone in an emergency. I know that there are good Samaritan laws that protect someone who tries to help but the person ends up being injured (like CPR and cracking ribs). I believe this because in a lot of cases the person who is trying to help can be seriously injured or die.
 
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