Morally you should, but by doing so you are putting yourself in danger. So, no, the government does not have the right to force people to put their life in danger.

This is the problem with todays society.

Incentives, laws, legislation etc.

Giving people selfish reasons to do things is what is ultimately breaking society down in the long run.

People will slowly learn to help people - not because it's good, but so they don't break the law.

I like what wolfbite said.

It should not be a law especially since you can get sued if you save somebody and they get hurt in the proses. Which is total BS.

No, you oughtn't be punished if in helping you are putting your own life in danger. However, neither should there ever be a law which says that they can sue you if you cause damage or if they didn't want to be saved.

YES AND NO ,

DEPENDING.

FIRSTLY,

Here is an eg: to your eg; That person in the lake would have indeed drowned and there was no witness to the lack of give a shit that was chosen by the person who could have made a difference between life or death.

Although i can quite understand if the person who chose to walk on by , did so out of concern for ones own safety ie;also drowning, i still feel that it is that individuals moral downfall that they didnt even bother to raise the alarm.

I myself , would go running to someones rescue , or at least attempt to help if i am able to do so.

I do feel obligated that i should at least aknowledge the situation rather then just ignore it.

So ultimately Yes we should be "good samaritans"

And here is an eg: of why :

Not all cases come down to just fear or concerns for ones safety but in a lot of cases it also comes down to fear of penalty.

eg: As in a case of when persons partake in the risk of consuming drugs with friends , and

one of them overdoses.

There has been many cases where friends have left friends to die rather then face the music .

Also in cases of hit and runs.

YES AND NO.

I ABHOR PEOPLE WHO HIT AND RUN.

Recently , unfortunately , a young man hit a group of drunken pedestrians and when attempted to help the victims was turned on by a drunken angry mob.ONLY in cases like this would i understand a driver leaving the victim.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/driver-who-hit-youths-flees-an-angry-mob-in-epping/story-e6frf7jo-1225821867178

Perhaps the angry mob was the difference between the life and death of their friend in this case.

Had they given their immediate attention to the wounded friends ,as the driver had tried to do , then perhaps their deceased friend would be alive.

NOW TO MY MAIN REASON FOR WHY I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE GOOD SAMARITANS

AT LEAST FROM A CONSCIENCE MORAL LEVEL.

Keyra Steinhardt

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/leonard_fraser/ 8.html

Keyra Steinhardt

would be alive today

if the one person who could have diverted her attacker had just yelled STOP!

AND IN THIS CASE

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY LIKELY THAT THE ATTACKER WOULD HAVE STOPPED.

HAD HE KNOWN HED BEEN CAUGHT.

But the so-called "good samaritan" did nothing.

Its NOT all well and good to be afraid because unless people take notice and have the courage to act or at least speak up ,

We all may as well give up.

I don't think there should be a Good Samaritan law but most people will help someone if they see him in danger.