Is this a crime

[Sephren468]

No I do not think it should be illegal to ignore a situation like that. I would only help if I would get some kind of reward or something. Why should I risk injury or death to save some useless person? Seems pretty silly....

 

[Jodah]

In most countries you are required to at least call emergency personnel. You don't need to jump in after or risk your own life in any way, though.

 

[GrimSheeper]

In this country, it is. Non-Assistance of a person in danger. Unless you're endangering your own life, you are required to help. At least call the police, that's the thing you can almost always do.

 

[game-lover]

I think so, yeah.

You'd probably get away with it but yeah... I think it's a crime.

 

[hawkeye52]

unless your country enforces the good samaritan law such as in France you are not legally obliged to do so.

 

[Roofstone]

It is illegal to pass any emergency situation where you CAN help, and not do so. If there is nothing you can do however, and there is already emergency services there. Just go on with your life.

 

[zehydra]

No, but it would be a questionable thing to do.

A governing body should NEVER make laws prohibiting inaction, because responsibility of action lies upon the actor. A person who does not commit an action cannot be held guilty of inaction.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

No.... But how do you sleep at night?!

 

[Tanakh]

Haha, no way Jose!

We do that everyday with the homeless on the streets, they are slowly dying and we just walk past by, so i doubt it's even morally reprehensible, or rather that there's someone that can reprehend you for that.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I believe in most places it is not a crime, as far as the state is concerned (and by "state" I mean government, laws, judiciary, etc.), but most people would condemn you for not at least calling 911 or something.

 

[SillyBear]

last sunday i was at a BBQ with some mates drinking and whatnot, and my brother presented us with this strange question

"if you happen across a stranger who is sinking in quicksand and you just leave him to die is that a crime"

we could not seem to decide if it was.

what do you guys think??

Yes. Negligence. We all have a duty of care and we are expected to intervene or alert authorities.

When my partner was in kindergarten a boy in his class had a seizure and died. The teacher ended up going to court and was given weekend detention for twelve (I think) months because they did not do anything in their power to help. The teacher thought he was mucking around.

So yeah, it's a crime. You have to help.

 

[FalloutJack]

Nah, I can't see it as a crime. Not as an actual convictable crime. Not unless, you know, you pushed him in.

 

[M920CAIN]

The sand committed the crime. It should go to jail!
Well it's only a crime if you pushed him into the sand .

 

[fundayz]

last sunday i was at a BBQ with some mates drinking and whatnot, and my brother presented us with this strange question

"if you happen across a stranger who is sinking in quicksand and you just leave him to die is that a crime"

we could not seem to decide if it was.

what do you guys think??

No it is not. You are never REQUIRED by law to save someone's law.

It makes you a completely evil and heartless person but not a criminal.

 

[crhoades]

Not entirely sure about this but you sound correct.

 

[Stublore]

...


I don't think that a standard civilian would be penalised for not attempting a rescue (although in the case of able-bodied young males, they would have more of a duty than, say, the old and infirm).

And what a nice example of a sexist comment.
(Is that enough not to trigger a short post warning?).

 

[Leemaster777]

I'm going to refer to my old standby in situations like this:

If you have to ask if it's illegal, it probably is.

I can only think of a scant few times I've uttered this question, and it WASN'T "yes".

 

[Quaxar]

If it is it shouldn't be. Forcing people who don't have the necessary training to try to help is just as likely to hurry death along as keep it at bay.

Because clearly calling emergency services won't change a thing. If you've got the choice between not helping and letting him die and helping with the worst case he dies anyway what makes you think you should rather not do anything?

I don't know international laws but I know here it is your duty to "help as far as you are able to". This means basically everyone is obliged to call emergency services, this does not for example mean you can or in any way should attempt to save a drowning person. Anyone except for a lifeguard should do this, seriously.
Also, to get your driver's licence you are required to take an 8-hour first-aid course (although I'm a firm supporter of at least 16-hours plus refreshment every two years) so in theory you should have some knowledge about things like CPR and it's just to bridge the time until the ambulance arrives anyway. Better wrong than nothing, might even be enough to prevent serious brain damage.

So yeah, I'm totally for "either this is a crime or it should damn-well be".

 

[fundayz]

Just abandoning somebody to die like that would be a chargeable offense in America, as you are in the power to do something about that person's death, and do nothing. It'd be the same as claiming that by not hitting the breaks when somebody trips in front of your car while crossing, you didn't kill them, momentum did. You intentionally allowed them to die.

You obviously don't know how law works in the US. There is NO law that mandates you to save someone's life even if you have the means to do it.

Your analogy is invalid:

If you had enough time to stop but didn't then you made an active decision to hit the person; momentum might have killed the person but YOU were controlling that momentum.

If you were obeying all traffic rules and a person jumped out unexpectedly and got hit then you wouldn't be liable as it would have been that person's fault that they got it.

 

[kradx]

Depends where you live, in some countries you have to (at least) call for help(police, fire brigade or ambulance).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue

It is still a moral duty.