Good Samaritan law

First Aid & CPR Maine

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 14 M.R.S. § 164 (Immunity from civil liability) — immunity for first aid, emergency treatment, or rescue voluntarily rendered without expectation of compensation.
Scope of protection Any person who voluntarily and without expectation of compensation renders first aid, emergency treatment, or rescue assistance to someone unconscious, ill, injured, or in need of rescue is not liable for damages, unless it is established that the injury or death was caused willfully, wantonly, recklessly, or by gross negligence. Does not apply to care rendered on the premises of a hospital or clinic.
Duty to rescue No
AED liability protection Protected
Statute The Good Samaritan immunity (14 M.R.S. § 164) covers AED use; AED program requirements are set out at 22 M.R.S. § 2150-C. Immunity extends broadly to owners, trainers, and users, except for willful misconduct or gross negligence.
No legal duty to rescue AED protection

Your protection under the law

Maine protects the volunteer rescuer through 14 M.R.S. § 164, which removes liability for anyone who voluntarily and without expectation of compensation renders first aid, emergency treatment, or rescue assistance to a person unconscious, ill, or injured. That immunity covers AED use — with program requirements set out at 22 M.R.S. § 2150-C — and extends broadly to device owners, trainers, and users. It falls away only where the harm is shown to have been caused willfully, recklessly, or by gross negligence, and it does not apply to care given within a hospital or clinic.

No duty to act, but every reason to

Maine lays no obligation on anyone to intervene — helping remains a voluntary act, never imposed. But the person who takes it on in good faith, AED included, is protected from civil suit, and that guarantee exists precisely so fear of a lawsuit does not paralyze generosity. Before someone in distress, hesitation costs more than the act itself; Maine's law is there to assure you of it.

Why training matters

In Maine, long winters, isolated coasts, and vast forests mean help sometimes arrives slowly — and the first responder is often a loved one or a neighbor. Training in CPR and first aid means equipping yourself to fill that role with assurance: assessing a victim, sustaining circulation, using an AED without trembling. Those hours of learning become, when the day comes, minutes won against the irreversible. Train, and make your presence a chance for those around you.