Good Samaritans or bystanders, who rush road accident victims to hospitals, would no more face any harassment or intimidation in Odisha.
They would be allowed to leave hospitals without facing any question regarding accident by concerned authorities. Rather they would be shown due courtesy. The State Government has come out with a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in this regard, sources in the Home Department said.
All the police authorities, District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) have been asked to abide by the guidelines of the SOP for protection of good Samaritans in pursuance of the direction of the Supreme Court.
At present, good Samaritans or bystanders often prefer not to call police or rush road accident victims to a hospital fearing that they might be made an eyewitness and called for frequent questioning by police and asked to appear in the court during proceedings.
Their apathy was established when a survey by the Save life Foundation (SlF) revealed how majority of bystanders don’t help victims fearing legal hassles and hospitals demanding admission charge from them. The SlF had filed a PIl in the Supreme Court seeking support for good Samaritans and bystanders.
Adjudicating the PIl, the apex court directed the Union Government to ensure that no such good Samaritans and bystanders face any legal or other problems. Then the Road Transport and Highways issued notices to the State Governments following which the Odisha Government has come out with SOP.
As per the new SOP, good Samaritans would now be allowed to leave hospitals immediately after furnishing their address, and no question would be asked them. Further, it would be voluntary for such persons to give personal details, including contact number.
Good Samaritan would not be compelled to lodge FIR at police station not be made an eyewitness, SOP outlined.
The local police would register FIRs either on the voluntary report of the good Samaritans or on the basis of the report received from the concerned hospital authorities.
If a good Samaritan is a male under the age of 15 years or above 65 years or a woman or physically-disabled shall be examined only at his/her residence, and the said examination should be concluded in limited sittings.