Good Samaritans get much-needed legal help

The newly approved General Provisions of the Civil Law has many highlights, among which are articles specifically aimed at protecting the rights of good Samaritans. According to Articles 183 and 184, people who contravene the new law have to bear the civil liability for those who suffer damage in the process of protecting other people's civil rights and interests, and the beneficiary has to give appropriate compensation to the good Samaritans, especially in situations where the transgressors flee the incident spot or are unable to bear the civil responsibility. In addition, if a good Samaritan causes any damage to the beneficiary, he/she will not bear any civil liability.

The media have termed the articles of the General Provisions of the Civil Law and newly issued local regulations aimed at protecting people who help others as China's "good Samaritan law", saying they will help rebuild the social climate in which people willingly help those in need.

Helping others during emergencies is believed to be one of the basic human virtues and necessary for building social cohesion.