President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Karnataka Good Samaritan and Medical Professional (Protection and Regulation During Emergency Situations) Bill, 2016.
The President gave assent last week. The legislation aims to give protection to Good Samaritans, ensure immediate medical assistance for road accident victims within the ‘golden hour’, and encourage people to offer first aid to victims without the fear of legal wrangles.
In medical terms, the ‘golden hour’ is the first hour after a traumatic injury when emergency treatment is very crucial. Karnataka is one of the top States that recorded deaths in road accidents. Legislative Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar, who was Health and Family Welfare Minister, piloted the Bill. Under the new law, the government will provide financial help to Good Samaritans who help victims. They will be exempted from repeated attendance in courts and police stations, and in case attendance is mandatory, expenses of such “running around to courts and police stations” will be taken care through the proposed Good Samaritan Fund.