Rich is a doctor.One day while strolling in the park he sees Adam, a stranger, choking on an apple.Rich does nothing to help Adam.Adam sues Rich for negligently failing to help him.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Generally, under common law, individuals do not have a duty to rescue or assist strangers in peril unless there is a special relationship between them (e.g., parent-child, carrier-passenger). The fact that Rich is a doctor does not establish a duty to act in this scenario, as there was no pre-existing relationship or obligation for him to assist Adam, a stranger in a public place. The Tarasoff decision primarily deals with a mental health professional's duty to warn identifiable victims of threats from a patient, which is not applicable in this scenario.

Rich Is a Doctor