A legal, moral or ethical decision?
Early one morning a young man who could not swim fell into Baltimore Harbor. Near was another man who, in spite of the fact that he heard the young man's cried and although there were life preservers close by, did nothing to save the young man; he drowned. When asked why, the one who stood by stated that "he didn't want to get involved." The Baltimore police immediately arrested him and charged him with negligence, but when it came to court the judge, reluctantly, dismissed the charges since there was no law in Maryland requiring anyone to go to the assistance of another person in danger, and there was no "Good Samaritan Law" making persons who do provide assistance exempt from liability. [As told to me by Tommy McDearis, 2002/02/10.]
What would you have done?
Virginia Good Samaritan Law.
Last updated 2002/02/10
© J.A.N. Lee, 2002.