Good Samaritan law

First Aid & CPR Minnesota

The Good Samaritan: compassion and protection

Drawn from the Bible (Luke 10:25-37), the parable of the Good Samaritan tells of a traveller left for dead who is rescued by a stranger that tends to him and sees to his care. Beyond its religious context, it carries a universal message: the moral duty to help others in danger, through compassion and altruism.

Inspired by this principle, many so-called Good Samaritan laws have been enacted around the world to protect those who assist in good faith during an emergency from legal action. The exact scope of that protection, however, varies from one jurisdiction to another: here is what the law applicable to your region provides.

Statute citation

Governing act Minn. Stat. § 604A.01 (Good Samaritan Law) — subd. 1 imposes a duty to assist; subd. 2 grants civil immunity for emergency care rendered without compensation.
Scope of protection Subd. 2: a person who without compensation or expectation of compensation renders emergency care, advice, or assistance at the scene (or in transit to professional medical care) is not liable for civil damages, unless the person acts in a willful and wanton or reckless manner. Does not apply to a person acting during the course of paid regular employment.
Duty to rescue Yes
Penalty for failure to assist Subd. 1: a person at the scene of an emergency who knows that another is exposed to or has suffered grave physical harm shall, to the extent they can do so without danger or peril to self or others, give reasonable assistance (which may be limited to obtaining aid from law enforcement or medical personnel). Violation of this duty is a petty misdemeanor.
AED liability protection Protected
Statute The definition of "emergency care" in Minn. Stat. § 604A.01 subd. 2 expressly includes using or providing an AED; the immunity therefore applies to a rescuer who uses an AED in good faith and without compensation.
Legal duty to rescue applies AED protection

Your protection under the law

Minnesota enshrines Good Samaritan immunity at subd. 2 of Minn. Stat. § 604A.01: a person who without compensation or expectation of it renders emergency care, advice, or assistance at the scene or in transit is not liable for civil damages. The definition of "emergency care" expressly includes using an AED, so a rescuer who employs a defibrillator in good faith enjoys the same protection. Immunity yields only where the person acts in a willful and wanton or reckless manner, and it does not apply to someone intervening in the course of paid employment.

Duty to rescue

Minnesota stands apart: its Good Samaritan law does more than protect the helper — it imposes a duty to assist. Under subd. 1 of § 604A.01, any person at the scene of an emergency who knows another is exposed to grave physical harm must, to the extent they can do so without danger to themselves or others, give reasonable assistance — which may be as simple as summoning law enforcement or medical help. Failing this duty is a petty misdemeanor. Far from a threat, this obligation is a constructive invitation: the law asks of everyone a reasonable act, and fully protects the one who performs it.

Why training matters

Since Minnesota expects reasonable assistance from everyone, it is best to know exactly what to do when the moment comes. Training in CPR and first aid turns an abstract duty into real capability: recognizing a cardiac arrest, compressing effectively, using an AED without hesitation, calling for help at the right time. In a state where harsh winters and wide spaces can delay the ambulance, that skill often marks the difference between a helpless bystander and a true first link in the chain of survival. Answer the spirit of the law not out of obligation, but out of the pride of knowing how to act — and train now.