Good Samaritan/Fireman's Rule

At its regular meeting on June 29, 1999, the Law Revision Commission voted to undertake a combined study of the Good Samaritan Law and Fireman's Rule pursuant to requests from Judiciary Committee Co-Chairmen Donald E. Williams, Jr. and Michael P. Lawlor. The requests asked for a report to the Judiciary Committee prior to the 2000 session and further specified that regarding:

the Good Samaritan Law

" We are, in particular, concerned that the law provide an appropriate and consistent rule as to the duty of care owed by medical personnel who render assistance in an emergency.  Raised Bill 6630 brought to our attention apparent inconsistencies concerning the liability of ambulance personnel, who may be trained medical professionals, and other medical personnel who may be providing care in an emergency.  Important policy concerns are implicated both as to the need to protect a person rendering assistance on the spur of the moment in an emergency - the purpose of the Good Samaritan Law - and the need to set an appropriate level of liability for trained professionals who are rendering aid in the normal course of business."

and the Fireman's Rule

"We are, in particular, concerned that the law provide an appropriate and consistent rule as to the duty of care owed by a landowner to firefighters and other personnel who enter on a property to provide assistance in an emergency."

 

Commission members serving on this committee are:

Robert W. Grant

Mary Anne O'Neill

Joel I. Rudikoff