The Good Samaritan Statute: Civil Liability Exemptions for Emergency Care

In 2006, the Wisconsin Supreme Court examined in detail the Good Samaritan law and issued an opinion in which it defined the terms of Wisconsin’s Good Samaritan statute. The court did not modify long-standing law, but in clarifying the law’s terms, the court also clarified its application.

by Barry W. Szymanski

Most people would like to help others in emergencies but also want to avoid liability should anything go amiss when providing that help. Many states enacted Good Samaritan statutes, for example, so that physicians would be immune from being held liable for providing emergency assistance to injured people in situations when physicians do not have access to their medical equipment, staff, or a clean environment.

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