Most states have Good Samaritan laws that generally protect a person who renders medical or nonmedical care at the scene of an emergency—in good faith and not for compensation—from liability for civil damages (money) resulting from any related act or omission (negligence).

These Good Samaritan laws vary from state to state but generally include protection for medical doctors and other health care providers who—while not working with an expectation of being paid for their services—volunteer to help in emergency situations such as the scene of an automobile accident, a person choking in a restaurant, or a person having a heart attack on an airplane.

Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Laws

Most states and the District of Columbia have passed Good Samaritan drug overdose laws—also known as 911 Good Samaritan laws—that generally provide immunity from arrest, charge, or prosecution for criminal offenses related to controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. These laws also sometimes provide immunity from the consequences of what would otherwise be violations of pretrial, probation, parole, order of protection, or restraining order terms and conditions. And sometimes these Good Samaritan drug overdose laws provide immunity from civil liability for a person who calls 911, administers resuscitation procedures, or administers an agent such as Naloxone (a rescue drug) following an opioid overdose, for example.

Good Samaritan drug overdose laws vary from state to state in the scope of covered criminal offenses and violations—and sometimes require a 911 caller, for example, to remain at the scene of a drug overdose and cooperate with emergency medical personnel. Many laws require a 911 caller to have a reasonable belief that someone is experiencing an overdose emergency and require the caller to have made the report of an emergency in good faith and not, for example, when the police are executing an arrest or search warrant.

In Georgia, Good Samaritan laws provide legal protection to individuals who voluntarily provide emergency care without expectation of compensation. These laws are designed to encourage bystanders to assist in emergencies by offering them immunity from civil liability for any unintentional harm resulting from their aid, as long as they act in good faith and without gross negligence. Georgia's Good Samaritan law specifically includes protection for medical professionals and laypersons who render emergency care at the scene of an accident or emergency. Additionally, Georgia has a Good Samaritan drug overdose law, known as the Georgia 911 Medical Amnesty Law, which offers limited immunity from arrest, prosecution, or penalization for individuals seeking medical assistance during a drug overdose. This law aims to reduce overdose deaths by encouraging people to call 911 without fear of legal repercussions. The immunity applies to certain drug offenses and is contingent upon the person's cooperation with emergency personnel and having a reasonable belief that an overdose is occurring. The law also provides immunity for the administration of Naloxone to counteract opioid overdoses.