Alert Diver - DAN Europe

The „Good Samaritan
Law“ … across Europe.
A very interesting article,
written by the lawyers of the
DAN Legal Network
English only
One of the main safety rules in diving, is to never
dive alone ! Each of us relies on the assistance,
that should be provided by his/her partner in case
we have to face a dangerous situation.
I will do it for him/her and I trust that he/she will do
it for me (otherwise you should not dive!).
That’s usually known as “The Good Samaritan
Law”.
But asking an attorney at law to explain, according
to his/her national legal system, especially in
Europe, what the “Good Samaritan Law” is could
leave him/her more than surprised…
Any search in the contents of any European
legal book, will surely leave you more than
disappointed…
However “The Good Samaritan Law” appears as
probably one of the more important legal concepts
in any legal system.
Let’s see, then, what this “Good Samaritan Law”
is than cannot be in fact invoked in any European
Court of Justice… And that any legal system
should however abide by!
At least in Europe, “The Good Samaritan Law”…
is not a Law… it is a legal concept. In order to
LEGAL NETWORK
By THE DAN LEGAL NETWORK, National Coodinators
Committee,
Francois JAECK, JD, Executive Director, National Coordinator (France)
Peter COOKE, JD, National Coordinator (Great Britain)
Walter VERSTREPEN, JD, National Coordinator (Belgium)
Tatu HENRIKSSON, JD, National Coordinator (Finland)
Peter SCHETTER, JD, National Coordinator (Germany)
Joao TEIXEIRA DE MATOS, JD, National Coordinator (Portugal)
Mauro MASSIELLO, JD, National Coordinator (Italy)
Igor BEADES MARTIN, JD, National Coordinator (Spain)
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