Are you familiar with a specific case? I was under the impression that you can't be sued as a "good samaritan." I have been through numerous CPR and first aid classes and was taught that "good samaritans" are legally protected under those laws. In the case of people just watching someone in physical trouble and not helping is just ignorance and lack of compassion.

Yeah, that was a horrible experience. I felt so much like noone cared for me, like I was just a body to them.

Damn my dude, I am glad you were there. Its people like you, nickyVG, etc. that actually convince me everyday to care about people I dont know instead of completely hating the direction of our entire species. Not even gonna get into the whole government and human-disgust issues... we need more people like you man, it really feels good to know there are truly intelligent, caring and overall great people out there, even if minority of population.

"Universal truth is not measured in mass appeal"

1L, respect as always

People forget what is important and some are completely ignorant.

It can happen, I believe the 'Good Samaritan' law is different state to state. I could be wrong though. Either way, I didn't really help him as far as medically (I have no experience with diabetes and wasn't sure if his sugar was too high or low) so I just sat him down in a chair and made sure he wouldn't fall and hurt himself, then called 911. I imagine now that his sugar was too low as the paramedics had me grab some sugary drinks and they proceeded to douse a pint of orange juice with sugar before they took him off to the hospital for a few hours.

Either way, someone at the very least could have called 911 before me, it was evident he wasn't doing so hot and all they could well do was sit and laugh...aside from one of our regular girls who was the one that told me when I was walking in that he needed to be helped, the rest are well useless.

How is he today?

Well, thanks...I guess. I kind of figured most would have done the same seeing as all I really did was call 911, but apparently I figure wrong...

Oh he is fine, he was released from the hospital a few hours later and came and picked the rest of his shift up. We had a few laughs at how useless everyone was and I made sure he could pull the rest of the shift as I was up already and figured I could if he couldn't...but he said he could and he finished the night out.

Ya done good, D!

I don't think you can be sued in most states under the good samaritan law, but I also don't know if they have it everywhere. I'm going to take a CPR and first aid class in a month or two for my job. (I just recently started driving bus part time.) We, my trainers and I, had an incident just as we got to the casino with a group of senior citizens about a month ago. A lady ended up with her sugar bottoming out as she was getting off the bus. She had eaten breakfast earlier than usuall, and we got to the casino a bit later than expected, and the combination wreaked havoc on her system. We had to get some pop into her, and when she quit shaking, and got steady, we made sure that she went to eat right away. It was a little unsettling. I'm glad that her husband and my trainers were there. I don't really want to take the class, but I'm sure that it will be the best for all parties involved. I just hope that I never have to use those skills.

Thanks, but I really did figure I just did what most would have done.

Yes, most people really are that useless. I'm always disgusted by people who laugh when someone slips and falls. How is that funny? What if they really hurt themselves?

I guess we should laugh at them?

I can remember trying to maneuver someone sick in a wheelchair. Getting it out of the trunk, unfolding it, getting them in it, in the door, go park the car, back in, then trying to get the waiting room door opened and hold it open while trying to push them through the doorway. A room FULL of people and no one would get up and hold the door open??? Now, I always hold open a door for people in that situation. Sometimes, we might not realize the need until WE are the ones that need the help.

I think mean people should be boiled in oil.

Natural oil is best...err...

I think the people who don't take action fall into two categories - those who don't care, and those afraid of retribution. The Good Samaritan laws do offer some protection, but unfortunately there are many litigious people out there who would find a way to try to sue. There was a news special some years back about a woman who was proud of the fact that her wealth had come from successfully suing people...she actually listed it as her occupation, and her license plate was "I SUE". Horrible.

Glad you did what you did. There should be more people like you in the world.

The fact that you went back in to check on him because you observed that he wasn't looking so good may have actually saved his life...you did good.

Little did all of those people know that they could have been sliced into tiny pieces for their lack of action. WHERE was your chainsaw??

Another prime example of the sad state of our society. Tis just the tip of the iceberg so to speak. Ten years answering 911 calls...sure calls have gone up with the advent of cell phones but let me assure you, the offers to help the victims have decreased greatly. Whether it be the tons of people driving by an accident and not bothering to stop, or people not wanting to get involved by giving their name and number to the police for an incident they witnessed, or people not intervening in a medical emergency "I might get blood on me". It really is pathetic!

Supposively psychologists have tried to figure out why nobody calls 911 in these circumstances. They've come up with some bull about "bystander apathy"- other people figure it's not their responsibility to help because they figure somebody else will. Your chance of getting help from strangers actually decreases as the number of people around you increases! How screwed up is that?

I just think people have forgotten the golden rule...do unto others...what if it was you lying there needing help? How can people be so insensitive? Sorry for the rant, this **** just breaks my heart!