How Often Do Doctors Act As Good Samaritans? What Help Do They Provide?

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 03 Jul 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Asthma attacks, heart attacks, fainting, broken bones and car accident injuries are just some of the problems which have confronted doctors who have stepped in to help a member of the public outside while off-duty according to a survey of Medical Defence Union (MDU) members1.

Of 127 respondents to the survey, conducted to find out how often MDU doctors have acted as a Good Samaritan, and what help they were able to provide, 42 per cent said they had acted as a Good Samaritan more than once while 13 per cent said they had assisted more than five times.

Dr Karen Roberts, MDU medico-legal adviser said: "We found that doctors who were just bystanders have stepped in to help people in a variety of emergencies, including on public transport and in the street as well as more unusual settings such as in church and even while trekking in China. The help they provided included diagnosing conditions such as a heart attack and hypoglycaemic fit; providing reassurance; fixing a splint for a suspected fracture and in some cases resuscitating patients who had stopped breathing or had a cardiac arrest."

Results from the member survey include:

- 24 (44 per cent) of the GPs and GP trainees and 30 (41 per cent) hospital doctors who responded had acted as Good Samaritans between two and three times.

- Fainting was the most common condition for a doctor to help someone (71 cases) followed by head injuries (38 cases), broken bones (31 cases) and heart attacks (30 cases).

- Where known, the most common eventual outcome for patients was full recovery at the scene or after admission to hospital. Sadly, on 18 occasions the doctor later discovered that the patient had died.

- Public transport, including on aeroplanes was the most common place for an incident to happen and this featured in 91 cases reported by members. The next most frequently mentioned was in the street (68 cases).

- In 37 per cent of cases, the doctor was the only one who helped although passers-by, fellow doctors, paramedics and members of cabin crew were on hand to help at other times.

- In the majority of cases doctors received no recognition for the help they provided although many pointed out they did not want or expect anything. Others received thanks and in a few cases, the doctor was rewarded with a gift ranging from a bottle of champagne to an airline upgrade.

Dr Karen Roberts, commented: "The GMC expects doctors to help in an emergency, and this survey shows that they are happy to volunteer whatever help they can, even if they are on their holidays or where there is no medical equipment available. In many cases this help can make a real difference to the outcome for patients, for example, where the doctor was able to stabilise the patient until help arrives, or where the doctor prevented a car accident victim from being moved.

"It is surprising how many members ask us about Good Samaritan acts, often when they are about to go on holiday. Questions include what help they might be expected to offer, particularly if they have no equipment or have had a couple of glasses of wine; and some want to know their legal position if something should go wrong after a Good Samaritan act. Fortunately the chances of a claim are extremely rare and MDU members are reassured they have worldwide insurance cover for claims arising from Good Samaritan acts. Members can also seek help and advice from the MDU for other medico-legal queries arising from Good Samaritan acts such as police interviews and coroners' inquiries."

The latest edition of the MDU's GP Registrar Update2 also dispels some of the common myths about offering assistance in an emergency and several MDU medico-legal advisers look back at some of the help they have provided as doctors in an off-duty emergency.

Further information

1. The MDU surveyed a random sample of MDU members on their experience of being a Good Samaritan during a three-week period in May-June 2008 2. GP Registrar Update, Volume 6, Issue 2, June 2008

The MDU is a mutual, not for profit, organisation owned by our members who include over 50 per cent of the UK's hospital doctors and GPs. Established in 1885, we were the world's first medical defence organisation. We defend the professional reputations of our members when their clinical performance is called into question. Our benefits of membership include insured indemnity for claims of clinical negligence and a wide range of medico-legal advisory services.

http://www.the-mdu.com