Samaritanprincippet

Samaritanprincippet is a moral and legal concept—expressed most directly in Scandinavian languages as "the Samaritan principle"—that concerns the obligation to assist people in distress. The term alludes to the parable of the Good Samaritan and is used broadly to describe norms, policies, or laws that encourage or require bystanders to provide help, summon aid, or otherwise intervene to prevent harm.

In ethical discussion Samaritanprincippet is framed as a duty of beneficence: individuals ought to take reasonable steps to aid others when doing so entails minimal risk or cost to themselves. In law and public policy the principle appears in two related forms. "Good Samaritan" protections are statutes that shield voluntary rescuers from liability when they act in good faith, while "duty to rescue" or "duty to assist" laws impose a legal obligation to offer aid under specified conditions. Jurisdictions vary widely in how and whether they implement these measures.

Applications of Samaritanprincippet appear in emergency response, medical ethics, workplace safety, and humanitarian contexts. Debates center on the proper balance between individual freedom and social responsibility, the scope of reasonable intervention, and how to design legal incentives that promote assistance without exposing helpers to unreasonable risk. Critics question enforceability and potential unintended consequences, while proponents argue that clear norms and protections encourage more timely and effective aid.