The Buzz | China’s Good Samaritan law goes into effect

China’s Good Samaritan law went into effect on Oct. 1 to protect people who are ready to help others. Under the legislation, people who voluntarily offer emergency assistance to those who are, or who they believe to be, injured, ill, in danger, or otherwise incapacitated, will not have civil liability in the event of harm to the victims. The law aims to ease the reluctance people feel toward helping strangers for fear of legal repercussions if they make mistakes in treatment.

The legislation responds to the phenomenon of people refraining from assisting fallen senior citizens over concerns of being blackmailed later, said Wang Cheng, professor at Peking University Law School. The law will reduce bystanders’ hesitation to assist, said Wang.

Categories China