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New Hampshire's general Good Samaritan law is RSA 508:12, I, Aid at Scene of Emergency or to Victim of Crime. Good Samaritan laws exist in most states and are meant to encourage people who witness emergency situations or crimes to help injured parties or victims. The laws do this by giving immunity from suit for liability that might otherwise be imposed on those bystanders who voluntarily provide help. Good Samaritan laws are part of what the law calls “negligence,” a very large area of the civil law of torts having to do with who has a duty, who may be liable, and who is immune from liability when there is a personal injury or some other civil wrong. There are several other statutes in New Hampshire that provide similar limited immunity from liability specifically for physicians, medical practitioners, emergency personnel, volunteers and others who, in good faith and without charge, provide emergency services.
RSA 318-B:28-b, Immunity from Liability is the "Overdose" Good Samaritan Law. This law permits a witness or victim of a drug overdose to request medical assistance in order to save the life of an overdose victim by protecting the witness or victim from arrest, prosecution, and conviction. The law also provides immunity from arrest, prosecution, or conviction for a person who, in good faith and in a timely manner, requests medical assistance for someone who is experiencing a drug overdose or for themselves if they are experiencing a drug overdose.
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