Good Samaritan — It’s a Sign of Character, and It’s Also the Law
By: Randall Schmitz Published: January 1, 2021
Being a good neighbor sometimes means stepping in to help during an emergency. This post discusses Good Samaritan protections with a focus on Oregon law, and why it can matter for people in Idaho as well. Good Samaritan laws can limit certain liability risks for people who provide emergency help in good faith.
Oregon Good Samaritan Law — What Is It and Why It Matters for Idaho
The post references the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and explains the core idea behind Good Samaritan laws: encouraging people to help without taking on unfair legal exposure for acting in good faith.
It also notes that many medical emergencies happen outside clinical settings, and that Good Samaritan laws aim to reduce fear about civil liability when someone steps in to help.
The post states that on July 1, 2020, Iowa updated its Good Samaritan law. It then presents law text and, after that, turns to Oregon’s Good Samaritan framework as applied in Oregon.
NOTE: The screenshot includes a long statutory excerpt. For accessibility and CMS cleanliness, keep statutory text in a quote block like this, but consider linking to the official statute page and using only the most relevant portions.
The post then identifies Oregon’s Good Samaritan statute reference and includes the line: “Liability for emergency medical assistance by medically trained persons.”
Have You Been Injured at Work?
Get Your Free Injury Case Review
The post notes that an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help, and that Skaug Law begins work once you sign.
Key Definitions Used in the Oregon Law
The post lists definitions “as used in this section,” including:
“Emergency medical assistance”
- Medical or dental care not provided in a place where emergency care is regularly available, including (as listed) a hospital, industrial first-aid station, or a physician’s or dentist’s office, given voluntarily and without expectation of compensation to an injured person in need of immediate medical or dental care.
- Medical care provided voluntarily in good faith and without expectation of compensation by a physician licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners for the State of Oregon, in the physician’s professional capacity, at a public or private school or college athletic event or as a volunteer physician at other athletic events.
“Medically trained person”
The post lists multiple categories, including:
- A person licensed under any law of a state or the United States to practice medicine and surgery, dentistry or dental surgery, professional nursing, osteopathy, naturopathy, or chiropractic.
- A person who has completed certain training within specified time frames (as described in the post), including programs sponsored by recognized organizations.
- A person with certain emergency medical technician certificates (as listed in the post).
- A person who has completed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training through qualifying programs (as described in the post).
Limits on Civil Liability and Related Points
The post explains that, under the Oregon framework described, people generally may not maintain an action for damages tied to the medically trained person’s emergency assistance unless certain conditions are met (as described in the text).
It also states that providing emergency medical assistance does not, by itself, establish a formal patient relationship, and that the person providing assistance is not required to arrange for further care after providing the emergency assistance.
The screenshot includes citations/notes at the end of the statutory portion.
CPR Training Resource Mentioned
The post includes a CPR-related resource link:
https://www.redcrosslearningcenter.org/s/
Practical Takeaways
The post closes with a short set of points about Good Samaritan laws, including:
- Most states (and Washington, D.C.) have Good Samaritan laws.
- These laws aim to protect people who provide emergency care willingly and without taking anything in return.
- They may not protect someone from liability if care is provided outside the person’s level of training.
- They may not protect someone from liability if the person stops providing care and leaves the scene before emergency help arrives to take over.
Serving Nampa, Meridian, and Caldwell
Skaug Law serves clients across the Treasure Valley. If you’re searching for Accident Attorneys Nampa ID, Accident Lawyers Meridian ID, or Workers Comp Attorneys Caldwell ID, the firm can review your situation and explain next steps.
