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To Rescue, or not to Rescue - that is the question.
- Thread starter NudeDiver
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That's great if they're concious, and not underwater
Not to sound like a martyr, but I would like to think that I'd try and do what I could for someone, within my abilities and training
Personally I'd rather get sued than live with knowing that I had done less than what I could've
(this is not a dig a seaducer in particular, just a general comment on my own opinion)
EastEndDiver
Contributor
I was trained (First Responder) to tell the person I have Med.training and ask if they want help,if the answer is no then just sit back and wait ,IF they go unconscious then I have the go to help them.This is in New York possibly the good samaritan laws are different from state to state.
I would have a hard time NOT helping someone who was injured or hurt.
I would have a hard time NOT helping someone who was injured or hurt.
Reg Braithwaite
Contributor
Ok, I'm grumpy, so sorry in advance for the vituperation, but...
I choose to risk drowning to visit a world most people will only glimpse on TV. I get up at 4AM to go diving while others sleep in on Saturday morning. I buy dive gear with money others would spend on accessories for their cars.
If I choose to try to rescue someone, I myself may be injured or killed. Choosing to try to help is choosing to risk the ultimate sacrifice to save someone else. Even the most innocuous in-water situtaion could turn nasty if the victim panics. You could share air with someone underwater and get dragged to the surface in a runaway ascent. You could swim over to help someone inflate their BCD, and be drowned when they panic without warning.
Diving is always a risk. Rescuing others is always a risk. But some of us choose to assume those risks. It's who we are, it's in our DNA.
Now, with this spirit infusing me, if I see someone that needs my help, and a lawyer beside me grabs my elbow and whispers, "Stay on the boat, there may be expensive and annoying legal consequences if you attempt to rescue, the paperwork alone will crush your spirit," am I going to listen?
I choose to risk drowning to visit a world most people will only glimpse on TV. I get up at 4AM to go diving while others sleep in on Saturday morning. I buy dive gear with money others would spend on accessories for their cars.
If I choose to try to rescue someone, I myself may be injured or killed. Choosing to try to help is choosing to risk the ultimate sacrifice to save someone else. Even the most innocuous in-water situtaion could turn nasty if the victim panics. You could share air with someone underwater and get dragged to the surface in a runaway ascent. You could swim over to help someone inflate their BCD, and be drowned when they panic without warning.
Diving is always a risk. Rescuing others is always a risk. But some of us choose to assume those risks. It's who we are, it's in our DNA.
Now, with this spirit infusing me, if I see someone that needs my help, and a lawyer beside me grabs my elbow and whispers, "Stay on the boat, there may be expensive and annoying legal consequences if you attempt to rescue, the paperwork alone will crush your spirit," am I going to listen?
I'd risk it. Also remember that 95% of the rest of the planet isn't as completely moronic as the USA when it comes to laws and law suits. In other places (France for example) you stand more chance of ending up in court if you DONT help.
HBO MD
Contributor
The litigousness of American society is so utterly appalling that as a society we are now regressing to the point of legalities versus our own humanity and that of potential victims. We need to remind ourselves that the law has very little to do with justice, but is often captive to the debating skills of attorneys.
As a Critical Care physician, I am somewhat buffered by the Good Samaritan Act. Nevertheless, I know of many colleagues who bypass any potential legal inconveniece by not assisting at scenes of an accident. Consent is irrelevant as this may be challenged all too easily, in terms of a distressed victim's state of mind at the time.
There is no question that accidents occur in acute situations where resources are limited or unavailable. However,amongst the key questions one should ask as a potential rescuer is, "Do I have the skills to make a positive difference ?" If the answer is no, then one should avoid becoming a hindrance to those who can. And while this relates to paramedical or medical skills, it should also be a reflection upon one's physical capacity to endure what is required to assist with the rescue, and thereby not add another potential victim to the scene.
I have been privileged to participate in many rescues, and good hearted citizens have almost always been at hand to provide support and assistance. This legal response does little to safeguard the victim, and serves only to diminish us as people. This is utter dehumanization through a morally arthritic and bankrupt legal decision.
As a Critical Care physician, I am somewhat buffered by the Good Samaritan Act. Nevertheless, I know of many colleagues who bypass any potential legal inconveniece by not assisting at scenes of an accident. Consent is irrelevant as this may be challenged all too easily, in terms of a distressed victim's state of mind at the time.
There is no question that accidents occur in acute situations where resources are limited or unavailable. However,amongst the key questions one should ask as a potential rescuer is, "Do I have the skills to make a positive difference ?" If the answer is no, then one should avoid becoming a hindrance to those who can. And while this relates to paramedical or medical skills, it should also be a reflection upon one's physical capacity to endure what is required to assist with the rescue, and thereby not add another potential victim to the scene.
I have been privileged to participate in many rescues, and good hearted citizens have almost always been at hand to provide support and assistance. This legal response does little to safeguard the victim, and serves only to diminish us as people. This is utter dehumanization through a morally arthritic and bankrupt legal decision.
It is all well and good to postulate how one would or should act in the case of an emergency. It is also interesting to read the differing reasons why one would or would not choose to act.
I must tell you that all of this means nothing if you are the person in need of immediate assistance or the person in a position to save another's life. As the rescuer, hopefully your humanity takes over and you will do all you can to prevent the pending demise of another human being.
It all goes south after the blood loss is staunched or they begin to breathe again. It is after the dust has settled and the insurance companies and their lawyers start posturing. It also gets attention after a family member, having just watched a Jacoby & Meyers commercial, starts to think about what they will do with the money.
As I said before, I'll risk a litigious battle to save your life. I pray many others feel the same way.
I must tell you that all of this means nothing if you are the person in need of immediate assistance or the person in a position to save another's life. As the rescuer, hopefully your humanity takes over and you will do all you can to prevent the pending demise of another human being.
It all goes south after the blood loss is staunched or they begin to breathe again. It is after the dust has settled and the insurance companies and their lawyers start posturing. It also gets attention after a family member, having just watched a Jacoby & Meyers commercial, starts to think about what they will do with the money.
As I said before, I'll risk a litigious battle to save your life. I pray many others feel the same way.
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I would hope that if people are able to help, in any situation, they would. It is terribly unfortunate that some people want to jump in and help, with no training, and can actually do more harm, than good (perhaps the case in California??). It is equally unfortunate that lawyers will oftne try to drive a wedge in any bad situation. Not all lawyers do this, nor all plaintiffs.
However, if I were in a burning car, I would want someone to help, if they knew what they were doing. If I got in trouble at depth, I would hope someone would help me, too.
However, if I were in a burning car, I would want someone to help, if they knew what they were doing. If I got in trouble at depth, I would hope someone would help me, too.
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Karma?
It's really sad that the choice we make in trying to help someone can come back to bit us in the butt, regardless of the out come.
It makes me sick to hear about cases where individuals and attorneys try to use horrible accidents to make a buck.
As dive professionals we are not suppose to attempt a rescue unless we can do so with out becoming a victim ourselves.
If you think about it every rescue you become a victim.....a victim of potential lawsuits.
Those that go after divers for trying to help should be ashamed of themselves.
It makes me sick to hear about cases where individuals and attorneys try to use horrible accidents to make a buck.
As dive professionals we are not suppose to attempt a rescue unless we can do so with out becoming a victim ourselves.
If you think about it every rescue you become a victim.....a victim of potential lawsuits.
Those that go after divers for trying to help should be ashamed of themselves.
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