Good Samaritan Act passed by General Assembly

January 26, 2016 8:26 pm

Elisha Kay Aldrich

Rhode Islanders will now be able to save their loved ones from a drug overdose without the worry of legal consequences, thanks to a bill just passed by the General Assembly.

The Good Samaritan Act of 2016, introduced by Senator Michael McCaffrey and Representative Robert Craven, would “exempt from liability any person who administers an opioid antagonist to another person to prevent a drug overdose,” according to a media release from the State House. The bill would also further provide immunity from certain drug charges, as well as probation or parole violations for those in good faith who seek medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug overdose.

The bill has been backed by public health advocates across the state, and lawmakers hope that it will be a tool to combat the region wide opioid epidemic, removing barriers that might stand in the way of someone calling 911. The epidemic has been particularly vicious in Rhode Island- Maria Montanaro, the Director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH), the smallest state had more opioid deaths per capita last year than any other state in the country.

“First and foremost, we’re concerned with saving lives,” McCaffrey, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said. “If someone knows that calling 911 is probably going to result in their going to jail, they’re going to be very hesitant to do it. Nobody benefits from that situation.”

McCaffrey went on to add that while drug law enforcement is important, nobody should be afraid to make a life-saving phone call.