Centre issues notification for protection of Good Samaritans

• The government has issued a notification for the protection of Good Samaritans in the wake of the Supreme Court (SC) direction on helping accident victims.
• The Supreme Court had directed all the states to follow the Centre`s guidelines that encouraged witnesses in road accidents to report to police and also help survivors with medical treatment.
• The apex court had also directed the Centre to publish its guidelines to ensure that all those who help accident victims/survivors were not harassed by the police.

About new guidelines:

• No bystander rushing to the rescue of an accident victim should be subject to civil or criminal liability and/or be forced to be a witness.
• Any disclosure of personal information or offer to be a witness, in the event of the Good Samaritan also being an eyewitness to an accident, ought to be voluntary.
• Further, the examination of such a volunteer as a witness shall be done only on a single occasion and without harassment or intimidation.
• State governments may also institute a system of reward and compensation to encourage more bystanders to be Good Samaritans, and initiate action against officials or police personnel violating these guidelines.
• Lack of response by a doctor in an emergency situation pertaining to road accidents, where he is expected to provide care, shall constitute professional misconduct...and disciplinary action.
• Those making a phone call to inform the police or emergency services for the person lying injured on road should not be compelled to reveal name or personal details.

Analysis:

• The fear of getting embroiled in a police investigation and being subjected to the rigours of legal procedure often deters bystanders from getting involved in the rescue of accident victims. So, This step will encourage people to offer assistance without the fear of any criminal or civil liability
• About five lakh road accidents are reported in India annually with 1.5 lakh deaths, the highest in the world, and 4.5 lakh victims of road accidents happen to be in the age group of 15 to 45 years. Such kind of steps can help to reduce the numbers of causalities.
   

By: Vishal