Good Samaritan

The heartbreaking viral video of helpless tourists dying in Swat saddened everyone. Undoubtedly, the increase in tragic accidents, especially due to the recent monsoon heavy rains, is a matter of grave concern. But what makes this situation even worse is the highly condemnable attitude of the public. Reportedly, people on the spot, instead of helping such victims in distress, prefer to film their moments of helplessness that later go viral on social media.

I remembered a road incident I had last year in Karachi. On this occasion, too, passersby and other passengers were not focused on taking us to the hospital but on making videos and taking selfies with their mobile phones.

This reflects the decline of social values in our society. I can cite many incidents where victims died due to a lack of timely medical assistance, as people present at the scene made videos with their mobile cameras instead of helping.

All over the world, the free movement of ambulances is ensured. Even in a country like Bangladesh, protesters didn't create any hurdles for ambulances, but in our country, the presence of spectators filming the tragic moments at the accident site also blocks the way for ambulances and rescue teams.

Several countries, including the US, Canada, Australia and the UK, have enacted Good Samaritan laws to encourage people to help victims of accidents. According to these, the public is not only obligated to help the victims without fear or danger immediately, but also making a video for social media at such a critical moment is a punishable act. Those who help the victim of the accident are completely exempt from legal action.

The UAE, the first Arab country to pass a Good Samaritan law, imposes a heavy fine starting at AED 1,000 (around Rs77,000) for those filming road accidents that occurred on Emirati roads. In our neighbourhood in India, the Good Samaritan Law was implemented after the Supreme Court's order in 2016. Under which the police and investigative agencies cannot summon the person who takes the injured to the hospital, and the person who helps cannot be forced to reveal their identity. Moreover, all Indian hospitals are legally bound to treat the accident victims immediately and are not authorised to charge any fee for First Aid.

In many countries, citizens who play a proactive role in safeguarding innocent lives are also being recognised officially at the state level. The noble aim behind such laws is to ensure that if government agencies cannot reach the scene of the accident in time, the people present at the scene can perform their moral duty without fear or danger.

Unfortunately, there is currently no law in Pakistan that provides legal protection to the public to help accident victims. Rather, private hospitals refuse to accept the injured victims of accidents, while government hospitals express their inability to provide timely medical assistance under the guise of a police case. The person who takes the injured to the hospital is subjected to further investigation and court proceedings, and the person who helps out of humanity gets entangled in many legal complications.

I believe that if the parliament of Pakistan passes Good Samaritan laws, ensuring that all those helping victims are exempt from police or court proceedings, then immediate assistance to the victims will be possible. Many precious lives could be protected in the future. The government can also introduce official awards or certificates of appreciation to boost the morale of the people.

In my view, making a video of the accident should be declared a punishable cybercrime. This inhumane practice can only be controlled by bringing such video makers and distributors under the strict grip of the law.

As a matter of humanity, I would like to appeal to all Pakistani compatriots to extend a helping hand at the time of an accident, instead of turning on the mobile camera for recording videos or taking selfies.

The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council. He tweets/posts @RVankwani