GEORGE TOWN: The Health Ministry is considering the introduction of a Good Samaritan Law, offering legal protection to individuals who assist others in emergencies without fear of legal repercussions, such as being sued for unintentional harm caused during the act of assistance.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that the Good Samaritan Act needs to be enacted, and he will raise the issue at the post-Cabinet meeting next week.
"When and how this will come about, we will have to wait and see, but it is important that we decide it will be implemented, as other countries have done.
"This Good Samaritan Law must be in place at least during this 15th Parliamentary Session. We have three years left," he informed reporters after launching the inaugural Malaysia Community First Responder Conference on Saturday (Dec 14).
He noted that many countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and some Asian countries have already implemented the law, and Malaysia will use these countries as a benchmark.
Currently in Malaysia, there is no specific Good Samaritan Law at the national level, but the concept has been part of broader discussions and debates around public health and emergency response.
The introduction of such a law would align with Malaysia’s broader aims of enhancing emergency response systems and improving survival rates for incidents like sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
Dr Dzulkefly pointed out that Malaysia’s survival rates for SCA are tragically low, with less than 1% of victims surviving if no action is taken.
"For every passing minute without intervention, survival chances drop by 10%. The need for trained Community First Responders (CFRs) has never been more urgent.
"Our goal is simple, to empower every citizen with the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency," he said.
The minister emphasised that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are life-saving devices that can significantly increase survival rates for SCA victims, as 70% of SCAs occur outside of hospitals, where the time between collapse and defibrillation is critical.
He added that with every AED installed in public spaces, victims are given a second chance at survival.
He lauded Penang for demonstrating remarkable progress in becoming a 'heart-safe state' due to its strategic placement of AEDs across the state.
Dr Dzulkefly noted that to date, approximately 80,000 to 100,000 lay rescuers have been trained in Penang and over 1,000 units of AEDs installed in the state, of which about 300 are public access AEDs.
"Additionally, there have been an impressive 16 public saves since the AED installations. By replicating this success nationwide, we can create a heart-safe Malaysia, where no-one has to face the terrifying reality of SCA alone," he added.
He mentioned that the ministry will discuss with the Education Ministry to expand the existing CPR training modules in schools to ensure Malaysia produces a generation of people capable of providing CPR in any emergency situation. – Bernama
