The Contours of a Duty to Rescue
Advocates of a duty to rescue usually propose that it be restricted to cases in which
one can act with little or no inconvenience to oneself. But this does not go far
enough. Because its purpose is to safeguard the most vital human interests, the
duty should not be limited to easy rescues, but should require an individual to do anything reasonably necessary to prevent criminal violence or to preserve others
from death or serious bodily harm. Rescue should not require self-sacrifice, however.
Thus the duty should not apply if it would involve a substantial risk of death or serious
bodily injury to the rescuer or to other innocent people.