Re: [at-l] First aid a la SOLO

[Mike_Lincoln@umit.maine.edu (Mike Lincoln)]

I am taking the WFR course right now at the University of Maine in
Orono and in Maine there is a good semaritian law that protects people
like you who stop and try to help.  Unless you have a legeal duty to
act and breach that duty you can not have legeal action taken against
you.  If you are trying to help.  

Mike Lincoln

The family of the woman who died were suing me for not trying to save
her life, and the emotional trauma that the little girl went through
while trapped in the car covered with her dying mother's blood.  We
never went to court, but it cost me dearly in lawyers fees.  My lawyer
told me my only error was stopping to help and that I was lucky to have
not lost everything. The paramedics said there was nothing I could do to
help the woman, she did indeed have a broken neck and was DOA at the
hospital. Their statements ultimately got me off the hook (thank GOD I
took heir names, the police were no help in trying to find out who
actually responded). The family dropped the case when they learned I
would fight it in court, and the paramedics agreed that there was
nothing I could have done to make a difference.

You can imagine that I have second thoughts now any time I see an injury
of any kind.  I will help again, but I will never forget the hell that I
went though over helping the last time. I may take the position that I
will not give my name to anyone I try to help - I don't really know.

-Paddler
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