Random acts of kindness met with resistance, suspicion.

[Mallory]

It's disappointing that society has reached a point like this, where everyone is suspicious of everyone else's motives.

 

[Amaris]

It's disappointing that society has reached a point like this, where everyone is suspicious of everyone else's motives.

Agreed 100%.


J.

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

http://news.aol.com/article/calif-court-would-be-good-samaritan-can/282056

Proving that no good deed goes unpunished, the state's high court on Thursday said a would-be Good Samaritan accused of rendering her friend paraplegic by pulling her from a wrecked car "like a rag doll" can be sued.
California's Supreme Court ruled that the state's Good Samaritan law only protects people from liability if the are administering emergency medical care, and that Lisa Torti's attempted rescue of her friend didn't qualify.

It is true no good deed goes unpunished.

 

[Aragorn]

^ Sounds like attorney Robert Hutchinson is someone you need to leave inside a flaming car if you see him trapped inside.

When I was in grade school, a teacher told us about a veterinarian who saved a guy in a car crash with emergency medical procedures, but since she was a vet and not a medical doctor, the guy sued her and won. But I can't find proof of that ever happening.

 

[MarianLH]

I'm not so sure I'm inclined to disagree with the court, given what the phrase "like a rag doll" could mean. I'd like to know more before I jump to any conclusions.


Marian

 

[Kelthaz]

Yeah, it would be easy to jump on the court for this, but the rag doll comment makes me think twice. The court also agreed unanimously that the good Samaritan was in the wrong, so I think there's a few details that we're missing.

 

[trekkerguy]

I wonder if the car was on fire.

Paraplegic= < Burned to death.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Yeah, it would be easy to jump on the court for this, but the rag doll comment makes me think twice. The court also agreed unanimously that the good Samaritan was in the wrong, so I think there's a few details that we're missing.

I can't be the only one who's disinclined to think that a good Samaritan could EVER be in the wrong. What, should this woman have just left her friend to die?

 

[Small White Car]

I wonder if the car was on fire.

Paraplegic= < Burned to death.

The article clearly says that it wasn't.

So I would say that sitting in a wrecked car until the emergency crew gets there IS better than being a paraplegic.

I can't be the only one who's disinclined to think that a good Samaritan could EVER be in the wrong. What, should this woman have just left her friend to die?

How is "waiting for the ambulance" the same as "leaving her to die?"

Seriously, if you found a drowning man and shot him with a gun, would you go home happy?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Seriously, if you found a drowning man and shot him with a gun, would you go home happy?

No, but that's not what happened here, is it?

How is "waiting for the ambulance" the same as "leaving her to die?"

Remember Kitty Genovese?

 

[Small White Car]

Seriously, if you found a drowning man and shot him with a gun, would you go home happy?

No, but that's not what happened here, is it?

Seems pretty much the same insomuch as the victim would have been better off without the 'help' and the helper should have known that.

Remember Kitty Genovese?

I just read about her and no, it doesn't seem similar. If her neighbors had come over and hurt her MORE after the attack, then yes, that would be the same. But that's not what happened to her.

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

Still this will have many would be "good Samaritans" thinking twice about helping a person. I know I'd think twice if there's a chance I'll be sued for saving a life. I’ve performed the Heimlich maneuver before and was worried that I might break or crack a rib while doing it.

 

[Small White Car]

Still this will have many would be "good Samaritans" thinking twice about helping a person. I know I'd think twice if there's a chance I'll be sued for saving a life. I’ve performed the Heimlich maneuver before and was worried that I might break or crack a rib while doing it.

But a cracked rib is actually a real possibility when performing the Heimlich maneuver. Let's say you DO crack a rib while saving their life.

Now, contrast that with someone who, instead of performing the Heimlich, hits the choking person with a chair, thus cracking their ribs.

You seem to be acting as if the court will see these two examples as the same thing. I have just enough faith in the court to believe they'd see a difference there.

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

I'd hope they would see the differences, but then the courts let OJ get away with murder too. I know, extreme case, but the court is only as smart as its jury.

 

[Small White Car]

I know, extreme case, but the court is only as smart as its jury.

Unless you're talking about the example we're all talking about since, you know, it didn't have a jury being a supreme court and all.

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

The Supreme Court said it could go to trial, it will still be decided on by a jury. Again I say the court is only as smart as the jury.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Seriously, if you found a drowning man and shot him with a gun, would you go home happy?

No, but that's not what happened here, is it?

Seems pretty much the same insomuch as the victim would have been better off without the 'help' and the helper should have known that.

Why?

 

[Small White Car]

No, but that's not what happened here, is it?

Seems pretty much the same insomuch as the victim would have been better off without the 'help' and the helper should have known that.

Why?

Why should she have known that? Because I remember learning that in the 4th grade; that if you move an injured victim you'll likely do large amounts of harm to that person.

I suppose the woman could argue that she didn't get past the 4th grade, but I think that would have been notable enough for the article to mention.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Seriously, if you found a drowning man and shot him with a gun, would you go home happy?

No, of course not, but I would think - *hope* - that most people would try to help the drowning victim. They shouldn't be subject to lawsuits for doing that.

 

[pookha]

lisi torti may contribute to the deaths of many..

danrin it i screwed up the title..
it should be ms van horn may contribute to the deaths of others.

sigh

from los angles times

The divided high court appeared to signal that rescue efforts are the responsibility of trained professionals. It was also thought to be the first ruling by the court that someone who intervened in an accident in good faith could be sued.

sue the people responsible for the wreck.
yeah moving people depending on the situation may not be the wisest thing but it was done in good faith effort .

the next time someone is trapped and the situation requires they be moved
people may hestiate for that critical moment or not act at all due to fear of not only bankrupting themselves but their loved ones.

i suspect states are going to look more closely at their good samaritan protection laws so they would stand up in a court case like this.