Good Samaritan

[civilspouse]

Does your spouse have a policy about helping someone that is injured? We were at an adult soap box derby race yesterday and one of the cars crashed into the spectators on the other side of the street from us. A lady was injured but they had a medic come and loaded her into a truck to get her down the hill. She was in good spirits yelling for the race to continue, it just looked like it was her ankle. DH said he wondered for a minute if he should go over and see if they needed help. They had it under control so he didn't. He is an anesthesiologist so obviously his skills are limited in helping an injured person but he has more knowledge than me or your average person. One of the things that came up during our discussion was the liability he would be taking on. I seem to remember some news stories about doctors getting sued in these situations. I am sure if there was a situation where someone was injured and DH was the only one there he would help any way he could but I think the liability issue does make him hesitate. I asked him if his institution had ever provided any guidance on this kind of thing and he said they never provide any useful information like that . I just thought it was an interesting topic and it made me wonder how your spouses would react in this type of situation.

[MAPPLEBUM]

DH is still in Fellowship but he avoids those situations. A few years ago we were on a flight when they asked if there was a doctor on the plane. He was already specializing in ophthalmology. He watched, three people got up to help so he didn't feel like he needed to. He would've helped if there hadn't been anyone else or if the situation escalated, but it didn't. When he was an intern an old lady at a restaurant started overheating. He was obviously the most trained medical professional in the room so he attended to her until the paramedics came. He doesn't enjoy that kind of attention. His attitude has become 'is it about eyes? no? not my wheelhouse.'

[poky]

DH is always the first one to respond; of course, he's in EM, so that kind of thing is actually what he's trained for and does for a living, too (albeit in a more controlled environment). If he was another specialty, I wouldn't be surprised if he would hesitate to get involved, though.

Good Samaritan laws DO cover them. Anyone can be sued for anything, so yes, I'm sure doctors have been sued for helping out, but unless they did something well outside their scope of practice, or abandoned the patient before EMS arrived or something like that, it's not going to have gone anywhere.

[L.Jane]

If there is already someone medical on the scene DH sits back. We were on an airplane once when they asked for a Dr. He went back but saw a senior ER Dr. from his own hospital so he stepped back and let her step in. He prefers not to be the helper, but if he is the only one there, he steps in.

[SuzySunshine]

Mine will also step in if he's the only one but usually lets others respond first. 99% of what people would need help for have nothing to do with neurosurgery. He has helped once on an airplane.

[Deebs]

DH is EM and always offers to help. Keep in mind, even if uber subspecialized, all docs have at least been through medical school. They are definitely better than no one. Good Samaritan absolutely applies in all 50 states, and another law protects while in the air.

Civilspouse - in your case, there were medics already there, so it would only have made sense if your DH really felt compelled to go over.
DH has been on scenes when he was a medic where doctors stopped and were problematic. Mostly when they think they know more than paramedics, not realizing that it's different to treat a patient in an uncontrolled environment with limited resources. If EMS is already there, often they have it handled. My DH still offers to help, but often they'll say they've got it. Then, we leave.

On a personal note, I have a daughter with life threatening food allergies. I would be grateful for ANY doctor to just ask if I needed help, were she having a medical emergency. Waiting for EMS is terrifying and seems like forever, even when it's not. I'm sure 99.99% of people feel the same.


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[Phoebe]

DH has helped several different times, but let's others help if they were there. One time at the gym, they overhead announced for a dr. DH went to the situation and there was a crowd of people. DH started to leave and the trainer asked him to help. DH declined since people were already assisting. It turns out the "Drs" were psychologists. (PhD). The EMS arrived just after that.


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[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Dh went to assist one time when a man fainted at church. There were several nurses there and they were being quite vocal that they had it under control so he left.

[diggitydot]

My DH always helps when emergency responders haven't arrived yet. Once they arrive, he assumes they have things under control.

[Vanquisher]

Chad helps until he can hand off to EMS unless someone already assumed care. On a plane he would help if no one else jumped up.

[Thirteen]

DH helps.


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[gcuthbe1]

The fear is 1. You have to stay with them until someone more qualified takes over 2. You may be liable to stay with them / be their responsible physician until their care is complete.

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[Doctor+Teacher=Love]

DH was a nurse before med school and we've discussed this at length. He says if it was an emergency and there was nobody else who was able to help at all/in time, he'd step in, but until then he says he wants to let those who have been trained in emergency medicine take over. Pathologists only deal with the specimen side of things. = )

[MDPhDWife]

DH has helped on many occasions but only when no one else has stepped up. As he has gotten more specialized though, he really only wants to tend to eye related things.

[houseelf]

On the way to a conference for APSA a few years ago, a man was having a heart attack and the intercom came on and asked for a doctor or nurse. I swear to you, half the plane stood up.