PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry is seeking feedback on whether members of the public should provide voluntary assistance in emergency situations.
The public feedback will allow the government to consider the best way forward in adopting a Good Samaritan law for the nation.
The “Good Samaritan approach” is a principle, often supported by law, that protects individuals who voluntarily help someone in an emergency from being sued for negligence.
This will encourage bystanders to offer reasonable assistance without fear of legal repercussions.
The statement said that hesitation due to fear of harm, lack of knowledge, and concerns over the perception of their actions may impact a person’s willingness to assist someone in need.
The ministry aims to gather and identify the main reasons that discourage or encourage people from helping those in need, whether legal uncertainty is a prominent factor or not, as well as the types of safeguards for those who provide emergency assistance.
The feedback gathered aims to “improve public education and awareness on how to help safely, expand access to training such as CPR and first aid, provide clearer information on existing legal protections and consider whether additional legal or policy measures are appropriate”, as stated in a public consultation paper by United Public Consultation (UPC).
Members of the public are asked to provide their input on the online survey linked and/or submit written comments through the UPC platform.
