Just to clarify on a few of the comments....
I am a softball umpire part-time. I am a licensed ATC (athletic trainer) full time. Just like nurses, doctors, PA's, Nurse Practitioners, etc, when I passed my national boards, it was a legal binding contract stating that in any life or death situation, I MUST stop what I am doing and render aide to the person(s) in need. There is no umpiring association in the world that is going to stop me from providing aid to a possibly critically injured person.
To comment on the 'Good Somaritan' laws that are on the books in most states, if you dont know what you are doing and commit a "tort of ommission' or a "tort of commission", very little is going to save your tail.
For example, collision at home. Base runner complains of neck pain and is groggy. No medical personel is around. The coach has no idea what to do. You think that she is OK and help her to her feet. She collapses and dies 2 minutes later because the collision fractured a vertebrae and after walking on it, a jagged piece of the broken vertebrae severs the spinal cord. <<<<<<< TRUE STORY, BY THE WAY.
You have committed a tort of commission and better get ready for one heck of a lawsuit.
And, a final note to end on, one of my athletic training instructors in college gave a great piece of advice.
"The Good Somaritan Law is like spicy Mexican food. It is great going down, but hurts like hell when it comes out a little later." In a nutshell, the GSL reads good on paper, but when you are in court using that as your only defense, you are screwed.
|