No Good Deed Ever Goes Unpunished
I think all of us have something inside us that makes us want to help people who are injured and “take charge” before the 911 guys arrive. It is an admirable trait.
In the U.S., and other places I think, there are “Good Samaritan Laws” which protect individuals from being sued for trying to help someone. For example, let's say you were giving CPR to a drowning victim. While giving chest compressions you break a rib of the victim, which punctures a lung, and contributes to the eventual death of the victim. It is my understanding that “Good Samaritan Laws” would protect you from being sued by the family of the victim because you were honestly trying your best to help. Or, let's say you were pulling someone out of a fire, you trip and end up breaking the victims leg. Good Samaritan Laws would protect you.
Here is the important thing you need to remember: There are NO Good Samaritan Laws in Korea. If you help someone who is injured, you run the risk of being sued. Let's say some drunk ajeossi fell down some stairs and busted his leg. You arrive and help him up and put him in a taxi. Ajeossi has no money for a medical bill so he claims YOU caused him to break his leg somehow by helping him and guess what, you're screwed. Ajeossi gets money, you get screwed, and Korea gets yet another foreigner to bad mouth it.
(The above scenarios are based on true stories, believe it or not)
I think this explains why I see so many gawkers, when someone gets injured in Korea, but very few who are willing to help other than call 119. I am thinking of an accident I saw right in front of my apartment building. A taxi hit some old guy on a scooter. The old guy was lying on the ground in the middle of the street with traffic swerving around him and no one would help him. At first I thought WTF? What's wrong with all those people just standing around watching? And then I remembered that I am the same way. Call? Yes. Watch? Yes. Touch? No.
I hate to say this, but I recommend that you do the same. I know it will be tough sometimes, but I really think it is sometimes better to watch, or walk on, than stop and help.
As soon as Korea enacts Good Samaritan Laws, I'll be the first to jump in. However, until then: Call? Yes. Watch (from a distance)? Yes. Touch? No.
In the U.S., and other places I think, there are “Good Samaritan Laws” which protect individuals from being sued for trying to help someone. For example, let's say you were giving CPR to a drowning victim. While giving chest compressions you break a rib of the victim, which punctures a lung, and contributes to the eventual death of the victim. It is my understanding that “Good Samaritan Laws” would protect you from being sued by the family of the victim because you were honestly trying your best to help. Or, let's say you were pulling someone out of a fire, you trip and end up breaking the victims leg. Good Samaritan Laws would protect you.
Here is the important thing you need to remember: There are NO Good Samaritan Laws in Korea. If you help someone who is injured, you run the risk of being sued. Let's say some drunk ajeossi fell down some stairs and busted his leg. You arrive and help him up and put him in a taxi. Ajeossi has no money for a medical bill so he claims YOU caused him to break his leg somehow by helping him and guess what, you're screwed. Ajeossi gets money, you get screwed, and Korea gets yet another foreigner to bad mouth it.
(The above scenarios are based on true stories, believe it or not)
I think this explains why I see so many gawkers, when someone gets injured in Korea, but very few who are willing to help other than call 119. I am thinking of an accident I saw right in front of my apartment building. A taxi hit some old guy on a scooter. The old guy was lying on the ground in the middle of the street with traffic swerving around him and no one would help him. At first I thought WTF? What's wrong with all those people just standing around watching? And then I remembered that I am the same way. Call? Yes. Watch? Yes. Touch? No.
I hate to say this, but I recommend that you do the same. I know it will be tough sometimes, but I really think it is sometimes better to watch, or walk on, than stop and help.
As soon as Korea enacts Good Samaritan Laws, I'll be the first to jump in. However, until then: Call? Yes. Watch (from a distance)? Yes. Touch? No.
posted by loj at 7:51 AM
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