There is a Indian Supreme Court ruling about persons involved in accidents and liability of the hospital to treat them.

The Supreme Court has ruled that all injured persons especially in the case of road traffic accidents or assaults when brought to a hospital or medical centre, have to be offered first aid, stabilized and shifted to a higher centre / government centre if required. It is only after this that the hospital can demand payment or complete police formalities.

The implications are that, in case you are a bystander and wish to help someone in an accident, you can do so. Your responsibility ends as soon as you leave the person at the hospital. The hospital bears the responsibility of informing the police, first aid, etc.

This augurs well for the injury and accident cases in India, as there have been cases where person involved in accidents have died as a result of reluctance on the part of bystanders to provide help. Bystanders feared getting involved in police formalities. This ruling will perhaps encourage aid by people and prevent loss of precious lives.

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