Good Samaritan law

First Aid & CPR New York

The Good Samaritan: compassion and protection

Drawn from the Bible (Luke 10:25-37), the parable of the Good Samaritan tells of a traveller left for dead who is rescued by a stranger that tends to him and sees to his care. Beyond its religious context, it carries a universal message: the moral duty to help others in danger, through compassion and altruism.

Inspired by this principle, many so-called Good Samaritan laws have been enacted around the world to protect those who assist in good faith during an emergency from legal action. The exact scope of that protection, however, varies from one jurisdiction to another: here is what the law applicable to your region provides.

Statute citation

Governing act New York Good Samaritan law — N.Y. Public Health Law § 3000-a (emergency medical treatment)
Scope of protection Any person who voluntarily and without expectation of monetary compensation renders first aid or emergency treatment at the scene of an emergency, outside a hospital or doctor's office, is liable only for gross negligence. Ordinary volunteers therefore enjoy a heightened standard of protection.
Duty to rescue No
AED liability protection Protected
Statute AED immunity is provided at N.Y. Public Health Law § 3000-b: a person who uses an AED (other than as part of employment) in good faith, with reasonable care and without expectation of compensation, is covered by the § 3000-a Good Samaritan protection (liability only for gross negligence).
No legal duty to rescue AED protection

Your protection under the law

In New York, Public Health Law § 3000-a protects anyone who voluntarily and without expectation of pay renders first aid or emergency treatment at the scene of an emergency, outside a hospital or doctor's office: liability can attach only for gross negligence. Ordinary volunteers thus enjoy a heightened standard of protection. AED use, governed by § 3000-b, receives the same coverage when carried out in good faith, with reasonable care, and without expectation of compensation.

No duty to act, but every reason to

New York does not legally compel you to rescue: stepping in remains a voluntary act, prompted by conscience alone. In return, the law raises the bar to protect you, reserving liability for cases of gross negligence only. Whether bare-handed or with an AED, the good-faith act is covered — all you lack is the certainty of knowing how to perform it.

Why training matters

On a packed subway, a Manhattan sidewalk, or in a small upstate town, cardiac arrest strikes without warning — and the crowd around it often freezes, unsure how to act. That is where a trained bystander matters: CPR begun in the first few minutes can double or even triple the chances of survival. A CPR and first-aid course turns you from an anxious onlooker into an effective rescuer, ready to work an AED without losing a second. Get trained, and be one of those who don't wait for help to act.