The place to ask China-related questions!
Beijing Shanghai Guangzhou Shenzhen Chengdu Xi'an Hangzhou Qingdao Dalian Suzhou Nanjing More Cities>>

Categories

Close
Welcome to eChinacities Answers! Please or register if you wish to join conversations or ask questions relating to life in China. For help, click here.
X

Verify email

Your verification code has been sent to:

Didn`t receive your code? Resend code

By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .

Sign up with Google Sign up with Facebook
Sign up with Email Already have an account? .
Posts: 249

Governor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Q: Will a Good Samaritan Law have any effect ?

Another person has died because of indifference by passersby/ fear of getting prosecuted. 

 

I've heard a lot about Good Samaritan Laws being enacted where people would legally have to help someone who's injured, but will it make a difference? 

 

It seems like people are already used to looking the other way. 

 

It's so sad. :/

9 years 7 weeks ago in  General  - China

 
Highest Voted
Posts: 879

Emperor

6
7
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
1

Another example of China addressing fundamental, systemic problems with superficial patches (though legislation is better than a slogan, I suppose).

 

Here are the problems:

 

1. Chinese people couldn't care less about each others' survival. This can't be solved by implementing yet another rule for everyone to ignore. China has traffic laws. Apparently they aren't enough to make people drive considerately. The problem isn't the lack of laws. It is that Chinese people are self-interested and lack empathy for their fellow humans.

 

2. What good is a law without a working justice system? Legislation is ineffective at solving problems in China because it is not carried out impartially, predictably, or consistently. Laws in other countries are able to affect change because they are implemented consistently, and people quickly learn the link between a particular action and the legal outcome.

 

In China, legal judgments are not related to a principle or precedent, and therefore cannot result in people understanding (let alone respecting) the system.

 

Regarding rewards for "Good Samaritans":

 

Perhaps offering a monetary incentive for good behaviour (or the conspicuous imitation of good behaviour) would help. After all, the Chinese public can't be expected to act like humans without personal material benefit. If the policy was implemented reliably, a Chinese passer-by might be inclined to help someone in distress, then go straight to the relevant department to ask for a reward. Which would be fine. I love the idea of the Chinese state having to pay people to be good.

 

HOWEVER:

 

Which official department in China could be trusted with a fund to distribute to good citizens? The day after setting up the fund, half will have been spent on official dinners and visits to the sauna (AKA "management fees") and the other half will have been given to the department head's cousin, who was allegedly nice to an old lady once (with photoshopped evidence posted on official website).

 

The Chinese "me first" mentality is what needs be addressed. Trying to individually patch the multitudinous manifestations of this problem is, by definition, treating the symptoms. Unfortunately, addressing any of China's core problems would require a depth of introspection, honesty and competence far beyond any Chinese department assigned to the task.

 

Report Abuse
9 years 7 weeks ago
 
Answers (6)
Comments (3)
Posts: 1439

Shifu

2
2
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Without law enforcement? Fat chance.

Report Abuse
9 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1300

Shifu

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

With a financial reward for helping, most definitely. 

DrMonkey:

Then, you will have stories of groups simulating accidents to get the reward... "You don't understand China" (tm) ^^

9 years 7 weeks ago
Report Abuse

hi2u:

Yes there's always a loophole to be exploited. But at least we'd probably see more people "helping". 

9 years 7 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
9 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 879

Emperor

6
7
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
1

Another example of China addressing fundamental, systemic problems with superficial patches (though legislation is better than a slogan, I suppose).

 

Here are the problems:

 

1. Chinese people couldn't care less about each others' survival. This can't be solved by implementing yet another rule for everyone to ignore. China has traffic laws. Apparently they aren't enough to make people drive considerately. The problem isn't the lack of laws. It is that Chinese people are self-interested and lack empathy for their fellow humans.

 

2. What good is a law without a working justice system? Legislation is ineffective at solving problems in China because it is not carried out impartially, predictably, or consistently. Laws in other countries are able to affect change because they are implemented consistently, and people quickly learn the link between a particular action and the legal outcome.

 

In China, legal judgments are not related to a principle or precedent, and therefore cannot result in people understanding (let alone respecting) the system.

 

Regarding rewards for "Good Samaritans":

 

Perhaps offering a monetary incentive for good behaviour (or the conspicuous imitation of good behaviour) would help. After all, the Chinese public can't be expected to act like humans without personal material benefit. If the policy was implemented reliably, a Chinese passer-by might be inclined to help someone in distress, then go straight to the relevant department to ask for a reward. Which would be fine. I love the idea of the Chinese state having to pay people to be good.

 

HOWEVER:

 

Which official department in China could be trusted with a fund to distribute to good citizens? The day after setting up the fund, half will have been spent on official dinners and visits to the sauna (AKA "management fees") and the other half will have been given to the department head's cousin, who was allegedly nice to an old lady once (with photoshopped evidence posted on official website).

 

The Chinese "me first" mentality is what needs be addressed. Trying to individually patch the multitudinous manifestations of this problem is, by definition, treating the symptoms. Unfortunately, addressing any of China's core problems would require a depth of introspection, honesty and competence far beyond any Chinese department assigned to the task.

 

Report Abuse
9 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 7178

Emperor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I think the fundamental issue is the apparent lack of a Hippocratic oath for health professionals. In Europe, if anyone witnesses an incident, the first thought is to help any injured. We administer first aid and phone for professional help. We know the paramedics won`t demand our money. Their job is to save lifes. Its what they are paid for. Doctors, paramedics and nurses need to have the commercial aspect removed from their jobs. Once the medical profession have respect people will do more to help. They might even pull their cars over to allow rapid passage of an ambulance. If initial life saving treatment was free I think there would be a massive paradigm shift from the current mindset.

Report Abuse
9 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 9631

Emperor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

As long as you have leaders who see themselves above the law, the people will not feel the need to follow any laws. 

royceH:

The leaders are above the law, so long as they are in the club.

 

 

 

9 years 7 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
9 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 5732

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2159429/golden-retriever-refuses-leave-chinese-owner-after-she-collapses

 

So this is the reason they eat dogs here, they care too much and make humans lose face.

Report Abuse
5 years 31 weeks ago
 
Know the answer ?
Please or register to post answer.

Report Abuse

Security Code: * Enter the text diplayed in the box below
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img> <br> <p> <u>
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Textual smileys will be replaced with graphical ones.

More information about formatting options

Forward Question

Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77