You are driving along a country road and come upon a person lying face down where the road blends into a grassy field. You look closer and see that the body on the ground is moving. Your heart beats rapidly. Do you stop to help or just drive on by?

A whirlwind of thoughts flies into your head. What if this is a set up and as soon as you get out of the car, you will be robbed or even attacked by people who jump out of the woods?You could keep going and call 911 to relieve your conscience, but then you think, by the time a responder gets to this rural road, this man might die when you might be able to save his life.Then you wonder, if you stop to help and inadvertently cause the man's condition to worsen, you could be sued.What are the legal ramifications in this situation?If you live in Germany, Finland, or Israel, you could face criminal charges if you do NOT stop to help someone in urgent need.In China, recently, a good Samaritan aided an injured woman and when he moved her body, her conditioned worsened. She sued him and was compensated by the court.Soon after this incident was reported in the newspapers, a group of bystanders did nothing while watching two cars run over and kill a child. Since then, China has now made a law that exists in all American states. You cannot be sued if you try to help an injured of ill person and you accidentally cause further harm.What if you find someone who is unconscious from a drug overdose? In 24 states, you would be legally allowed as a layperson to administer a shot of Naloxone, a prescription drug that reverses opiate overdoses. Even if you can get your hands on Naloxone, you still have to find out if you live in one of the approved states. If you're curious, in Pennsylvania, you can help the over- doser. So go get some Naloxone. You never know who may need your help someday.The larger question is whether your obligation to help someone who is in urgent need should involve the government's role in legislating morality.In 10 US states, it's a felony if anyone witnesses a crime and does not notify police. In Minnesota, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and Vermont, if you fail to offer direct assistance to someone in urgent need, you would be subject to a $100 fine.Let's say you've witnessed a drive-by shooting and the victim lay bleeding. First you think of going directly to his aid, but then you worry that the shooter might return to the scene, putting you in harm's way. Next you consider calling the police, but you realize by doing that you implicate yourself in a criminal event and most likely you will be required to testify at a trial once the suspects are apprehended.So what would you do?A few years ago, my wife witnessed a driver back into a parked car in a grocery store lot and then drive away. She wrote down the license plate number with her contact number and placed it under the victim's windshield wiper.A few weeks later she was subpoenaed to explain what she had seen after the driver had denied it was he who hit the car. So by being a good Samaritan, she had to get involved with a court case only because she had decided to help someone.Where did all of this sense of moral responsibility to others begin?In the bible, a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan find a man beaten, robbed, and left for dead. The priest and Levite each said, "If I stop and help this man, what will happen to me?" The Samaritan said, "If I do not help this man, what will happen to him?"It might be best to agree with the priest and the Levite. Walk on by and look the other way.Then again, you might want to believe that everyone should have to act as a good Samaritan.What if the beaten, robbed, and left for dead person is YOU?