Understanding How Good Samaritan Laws Impact Nurses: A Guide for Abu Dhabi Polytechnic Students

You’ve probably heard the term “Good Samaritan” before, but it’s likely that you haven’t heard of these laws in a legal context-that is, how they relate to professional careers like nursing. Nurses and nursing staff should have a deeper understanding of good Samaritan laws and nurses than the average Joe, so you should strive to be far more familiar with them than those around you. These laws exist for an excellent reason-they protect you, and help you protect those in need, to the greatest degree possible. “Good Samaritan” laws have their roots in biblical parables, and therefore hold a significant moral weight. “Most statutes shield those who voluntarily provide emergency care to someone who is ill or injured from tort liability unless their acts constitute gross negligence,” explains Jonathan Frutkin a lawyer for the Scottsdale Healthcare Medical Center. “The age-old parables in the Bible tell of good Samaritans who often risk their own safety to help another in need.” In the case of nursing professionals and staff, “Good Samaritan” laws were created to provide protection for nurses who provide aid in times of crisis, in turn protecting patients or citizens during medical emergencies. In short, they’re set in place to protect you, the nurse. But what are their limitations and requirements? In most cases, you can expect these laws to be applied to the following: You must also satisfy at least a couple of conditions in order for your actions to be protected by good Samaritan laws. If you break any of these, you’re not protected. Just like everyone else. At its core, the Good Samaritan law protects you from some wrongful acts that could otherwise be brought against you, in this case, from a patient or citizen who is injured while you are helping them. They protect you from liability. Depending on how serious of a situation you’re faced with, these laws may carry certain limitations and conditions. In order to be exempt from liability, in most states, you will need to do the following: Outside of these limitations, the Good Samaritan laws tend to be a bit murkier. For example, how do these laws apply to nurses who are off the clock or outside of work? Nurses should not be punished for their actions. Unfortunately this is the case in many places around the world, as the legal environments of the United States and abroad aren’t as kind or understanding to nurses. On the other hand, nurses exposed to the Good Samaritan laws are less likely to be sued than those who aren’t. Good Samaritan laws are rooted in many culturally diverse nations and locations; therefore, they vary from country to country, and even from state to state. Here’s a look at how they differ based on the region. Across the world, in the United Arab Emirates, Good Samaritan laws are rather limited. They only cover “first aid rendering”, which is categorized strictly as “a superficial type of aid not requiring special skills, e.g. stopping bleeding, attempting to revive a person in faint or no heart beat, washing the wound, re-applying the dressings, calling ambulance, giving diluted lemon juice to the injured etc.” In Abu Dhabi, UAE, Good Samaritan laws are only loosely filled; they haven’t been effectively tested by the Emirati legal system. In short, while Abu Dhabi is concerned with the wellbeing of its citizens, much more can be done to protect nurses on the job. For more information on this topic, or to learn more about how good Samaritan laws affect nursing, visit the American Nurses Association, American Medical Association, or National Association of State EMS Officials. As a nursing student or someone with ambitions of pursuing a career in the health and wellness industry, you should take each and every opportunity you can to expand your knowledge. Laws related to your field are vital for protecting yourself, your job, your clients, and your creditability. The more you dig deeper into the laws, the more you’ll be able to support yourself and other nursing professionals like you, and help others find the support they so desperately need. Abu Dhabi Polytechnic offers a number of courses relevant to hospital staff or nursing professionals. Of course, doing your own research is a great way to diversify and expand on a course, which is why we recommend reading up on Good Samaritan laws and other international laws so you can be prepared well before the situation arises-and perhaps avoid it all together. While Abu Dhabi Polytechnic provides access to excellent education facilities, quality resources, and programs focused on your future career path, does this mean that health and wellness institutions aren’t required to continue the education of nurses regarding laws and regulations? Not at all. In fact, it’s their responsibility to do so. These institutions, universities, and law institutions around the world help students and future professionals familiarize themselves with Good Samaritan laws and other laws that affect their careers. This is particularly the case with programs for nursing professionals. Whether someone neglects to provide the proper training, or a lack of sufficient learning opportunities prevents you from knowing the laws as they apply to your profession, there’s a strong chance you may find yourself lacking the right breadth of knowledge or faced with a situation where you’re asked to act and the law is against you. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, take the opportunity to gather as much information about Good Samaritan laws as you can. The more information you have in advance, the better off you’ll be.

For further reading on legal protections for healthcare professionals, you can visit this article on the National Institutes of Health website.