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The Duty to Assist

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Name and Number

Instructor Name

Due Date
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The Duty to Assist

People have disagreed over the duty to rescue or provide assistance for many years.

Although several jurisdictions have implemented “Good Samaritan” laws to safeguard

citizens who provide aid in times of need, other nations took matters further. They passed

regulations requiring individuals to call for help or offer it themselves. A duty to assist or

rescue is required to advance a righteous and just culture because it fosters an appreciation of

civic duty, guarantees that emergency personnel is alerted quickly in critical circumstances,

and holds participants liable for their neglect in digital offenses, possibly lowering the

incidence of cyberbullying and pornography.

Duty to Assist in Emergency Situations

Many states have “good Samaritan” laws that shield people from punishment when

they provide aid in times of need. Even though these regulations typically have good

intentions, they could only advance to a sufficient level of motivating individuals to act most

beneficially for those needing help. Some jurisdictions like Minnesota have expanded this

concept by enacting legislation requiring people to reach out for help or offer a helping hand

if they become acquainted with an emergency (Brous, 2019). Violating this section is a minor

offense that is less punitive. The incident with the Florida teenagers who stood by as a guy

drowned without intervening shows how vital such rules are (CBS Interactive, 2018). Despite

criticism that they are overly intrusive, they guarantee that people do not remain silent if an

individual is in immediate danger.

Duty to Assist in Online Crimes

Cyberbullying, revenge pornography, and broadcast suicides are just some serious

challenges that call for a prompt response. Even though some people might feel helpless to

stop the crimes, it is crucial to let the police know about them. Online crimes may do

tremendous harm, but disclosing them could save lives. Therefore, rules that require reporting
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of internet crimes may occasionally be acceptable. Enforcing such regulations comes with

difficulties, making it impossible to distinguish between the criminal and the victim (Bever,

2018). It may be challenging for someone to disclose a crime because they worry the offender

may retaliate. Furthermore, jurisdictional challenges might make it difficult to implement

such laws because online crimes are frequently perpetrated over national or global

boundaries.
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References

Bever, L. (2018, June 6). The disturbing trend of live-streamed suicides. Chicago Tribune.

Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-the-

disturbing-trend-of-live-streamed-suicides-20170208-story.html

Brous, E. (2019). The elements of a nursing malpractice case, part 1: duty. AJN The

American Journal of Nursing, 119(7), 64–67.

https://doi.org/10.1097/01.naj.0000569476.17357.f5

CBS Interactive. (2018, June 24). 5 Florida teens who mocked and recorded drowning man

avoid charges. CBS News. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-florida-teens-who-mocked-and-recorded-

drowning-man-avoid-charges-jamel-dunn-2018-06-24/