Reader: We Need a Hero Clause Built Into Our Health Care System

• Okay, my cents, or fractions thereof. There are already laws that say you can't be sued for actions that save someone's life. That assumes you're not screwing up. If you break someone's ribs performing CPR when they're having a heart attack, they CAN NOT sue you. If they were actually having an attack of indigestion and were trying to fend you off, you're on the hook. As far as Hero Clauses for preventing crimes, I'd agree - with SOME crimes. Robbery is not one of them, unless it contains one of the more serious crimes as well. There is no reason to confront a robber who isn't also trying to harm people beyond robbing them. The odds of suffering severe injury that will cost more than the result of the robbery are too great. Also, insurance companies and police are the ones who are supposed to take care of robberies; they do so well enough, so let them be. Don't fall for the action hero mentality; it's fine to let the bad guy get away FOR NOW if he's not going to hurt anyone. That said, I can't guarantee that I'd follow my own advice. On the other hand, rape, kidnapping, murder? Those crimes should, in a perfect world, have hero clauses. Problem is, there's a huge can of worms here; how do you judge when someone was injured trying to prevent one of these? We're talking probably more in legal fees proving that an injury was sustained in the line of heroism than what the cost of treating the injury would be.

• @TwistedCherry, actually I literally smirked as I read your latest bitter comment. Oh come on Twisted, you're really gonna' have to offer me a lot more than that to get inside the real me. Money works nicely. Look, it's time for happy hour, let's have an adult beverage of choice and then really let 'er rip. Now THAT would make me feel warm n' fuzzy alllllll overrrrrrrr. ¡Salud!

• Alexa - Tell me, do you high five yourself? Maybe smirk, as you feel that warm fuzzy feeling of "skoolin" me (or anyone else on the internet. Do you IM your favorite buddy and relive the moment your wit hit its peek for the day via cut n past in the chat. Hold onto that feeling, it might be the closest thing to real happiness you have.

• Chongo said "I think when a lot of us say he's an Idiot, its more like when your friend does something stupid/funny/cool you smack him in the head and go "You idiot!", its not "YOU IDIOT! YOU AND YOUR LINEAGE SHOULD BE WIPED FROM THE EARTH!" Thank you for actually understanding and reading it correctly.

• Sorry Grandma, are you saying that the boy who jumped in and saved the boy was the one charged with involuntary Manslaughter?

• Not saying offer it to people show they can be "heros". But there are people out there that would help someone esle in need without a single thought to their own safety. This shouldn't be a incentive. And every case should be based on it's own merits. But why can't we be Good Samaritans without worry "if i help this person will they sue me"? Or worst, stand back and think to oneself " should i take a chance to help this person and risk sometype of injury or worst death"? And then find out later you might have been able to save someone? A young kid i know (yrs and yrs ago) was walking in Janaury need one of our rivers. He noticed 2 little boys and a dog in the ice covered water. he rushed down to get them out. Never thought about his self. Was able to get one out and the dog. but the littlest one he keep going under the water and ice. this kids tried everything to get that baby (4 yr old) out. tried breaking ice with hands but it was to thick. he was finally so exhausted he couldn't do anymore. he got the older one up and walked him to his house and called 911. Bottom line, little one was gone. they found him 6 months later. This boy has been in and out of hospitals since. He was only 15 at the time. He has tried to kill him self so many times over this and he has finally suceeded. A yr ago. He finally threw himself off a bridge in to the very water that took that baby. He blamed himself all these years for that baby dying. BUT.... the mother was at a bar. the 2 little ones were left to themselves. the older one was only 7 or 8. They both were bundled up in winter clothes. And that's one of the reasons this baby drowned. his coat and stuff sucked up water and pulled him down. So mother was charged with neg. BUT... my friend was charged for involutary mansloter. Go figure. A 15 yr old kid! he was aquited. but still that hung over him until his death. So no one wants everyone to be "paid" to be a good honest person looking to help someone. But they should be compensated even if only hospital bills. I know, i'm rambling! Sorry to all for being long winded again.

• @Chongo, yeah, 'datz me ;)

• I don't see how this would encourage more people to "be a hero". I'm pretty sure the thought "Hey at least if I get badly injured, I won't have to pay the hospital bill!" isn't going to persuade somebody to be a good samaritan when they wouldn't otherwise. It's certainly a better cause than what most our tax money goes to.

• I wouldn't call him a hero. I would say he was doing what humans should be doing. Assisting. Helping. Without any thought to his own safety. My son in law was in different situtions: One 2 drunk guys were beating another guy up very badly in front of their apt at 3 am. Son in law just got hom from work. He don't know any of these scum. (will explain) As he was walking to his apt, made comment that it wasn't a fair fight with 2 on 1! Well, next thing you know, he is being jerked from inside his front door and on the street being beat. He ended up with his jaw broke in 2 places and 2 ribs broke. They arrested one of the guys at a bar, right down the street. and they got the victim as well. Well, victim was all drugged up and told Cops he never got beat, even thought he had cuts on his lips, nose and eyebrow (fresh cuts still bleeding) Anyways. SiL pressed charges. Court told asswipe he had to pay for damages. medical bills and 1 week out of work (has kids and needed to work. couldn't get workers comp or short term disab) Well, they would get a small check every few months then when those stopped they found out A/W was in hospital for attempted suicide! Now he's in wheelchair and finally (4 yrs later) has made his last payment. Nice. And yes SiL wa an Idiot! they could have killed him! Second story, we were coming back from the drive-in a couple of yrs ago. I had 2 of my grandchildren in my car and others with my daughter and SiL. anyways, drunk driver hit me and bounced off me, barreled towards other cars (this is after 2am not alot of traffic) hit another car so hard, that car flipped and barreled rolled towards us. (guy was caught at the state line after he had hit and killed another driver). My family checked on us, then rushed to where other car stopped. guy pretty bloody. he was begging SiL to help him out of car. I stopped him telling him he couldn't do that or he could get sued. So I opened the back door (4 doors) and the guy somehow crawled out by his self. as soon as we all were near my car, his exploded. Guy had some major injuries, but to protect ourself, we couldn't help him at all. this is called "not being selfish" and thinking of others in need. But with this guys injuries, if my SiL had helped him out, he could of been sued for maybe causing more injuries. and that's why no one helps people anymore. They are afraid of being beat up, shot, knifed, or sued. What ever happened to compassion for other human beings? It must be easier to stand back and make comments then to say "this person needs my help" and not think of their on safety. I also believe there should be a better system when someone gets hurt or injured when they are helping others. Police, fireman, EMT's and doctors get it. Why not a average stranger!?

• woody allen is a child molester-and the world needs more stand up guys.

• Ok, I agree with you all that heroes should be praised. I also agree that sometimes these situations bring out idiotic heroes even if they are brave. Professionals that handle criminal situations will always tell you to not put yourself or others at risk over minimal amounts of money. This isn't just because they don't want the hero to be killed, but sometimes vigilanteism can cause the deaths of others that are standing around. And frankly, the risk isn't worth it. People who are constantly involved in situations like this such as the FBI, local police, self defense instructors, etc. will all inform you to take a look around and determine if anyone is in immediate threat, take care of those and let the criminal go on their way. They advise that we should take in as much information as possible, try to remember details, try to assist the police in their search for a criminal, but we should never act alone to try to stop them. Maybe this guy was heroic, but he could have also caused other people harm as well. I give him props for being brave, but I also want to tell him to thank his lucky stars that this situation didn't turn out worse.

• yes we know Alexa, you hate jews... ;)

• Let's here it for all the stand-up guys. No offense Chongo, 'cos I'm not pickin' a fight or anything, just wanted to say: Wood Allen? I'm not gonna' take any advice of any kind from him. He used to be funny. Now, not so much. But even if he was still really funny, I'd still hate him. Used to like him, a lot, a while back. But then, well, you know.

• Well I do agree with your last comment Pete. Of course I would be PROUD of my brother for doing it, but I'm a neurotic woody allen kinda guy so after all is said and done, I would only be thinking of what could of happened. Thats my life though. "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying." - woody allen ;)

• I guess we'll just have to disagree, Chongo. If this was my brother, I'd hug him and tell him I'm proud of him. Then I'd tease him about being dainty for not being able to take out some shithead robber without getting shot. But I understand where you're coming from. For me, it's not about what's being stolen or from where. I just admire anyone who tries to live a standup life, which is very hard to do these days.

• @Pete - I think every situation is different... If this was some family business and the criminal is stealing everything they own then its more understandable. These are only my opinions though. I don't think the guy is a low-IQ kinda idiot, he is a hero + 1, but I'm saying he could of closed his eyes and waited a couple more mins until the guy left and then there would be no bullets entering body parts (this time at least). I think when a lot of us say he's an Idiot, its more like when your friend does something stupid/funny/cool you smack him in the head and go "You idiot!", its not "YOU IDIOT! YOU AND YOUR LINEAGE SHOULD BE WIPED FROM THE EARTH!". If I were this guys Parent/Brother/etc, the first thing I would do when I see him would be to hug him and then smack him in the head and call him an idiot! Even if he was Rambo and pulled an M60 out of nowhere and wiped out a team of ninja's and saved the day! Regardless, the original point of my comment stands... Heroes should be taken care of by the system and it shouldn't be up to them (or say the business where it happened) to pay for their personal health problems that come of it.

• @TwistedCherry, ROTFL!!!!! Way to dodge and duck and exit the bar before you spill the beer you're holding in the hand you're waving around in mock outrage. You can't fight back because you don't have a winning argument. OOPS! @Pete, exactly.

• I'm just not understanding why everyone thinks this guy's an idiot. The man stood up. Isn't that what we all aspire to be, the guy who isn't afraid when everyone else is? Doesn't he honor his family, his children with his willingness? And even if he dies, isn't it a good way to die? It seems so much better than a life living in shame on the sidelines for being too afraid to act.

• Wow, somebody got their Psychotherapy license in their box of Wheaties this morning, eager to use it much? lol Sadly, I am not impressed. However, amused that you could make so many blanket assumptions, and declarations on 100 words or less from me. I will go back to my real world now. Next time I pick up the grey matter off the floor or wall of another "hero" I will definitely think of you

• @TwistedCherry, BTW, having a gun pointed directly at you is not the same as what happened to the two men who collared the robber. Very, very different circumstances. Interesting that you would use a completely unrelated set of hypothetical circumstances to make your point.

• @TwistedCherry, ah, but this is the essential difference between you and me and our respective camps: people who act heroically, in the defense of others, do so knowing that they risk THEIR life in exchange for saving the lives of others. While they do not prefer to slip the mortal coil, they prefer it than for someone else. You believe that everyone else's life is entirely worthless until it comes to your own life. Oh, suddenly life is precious. So you ridicule them, tear them down, minimize their worth and the value of their actions. See, you say to no one in particular, I am better as a quaking bystander than he who dared. You demand heroes who are perfect with perfect actions and perfect circumstances and perfect results. Missing even one of those requirements compels you to denounce the good actor for not being perfect. Wow, you sound like you have powers none of the rest of us mere mortals have.

• @AlexaK - Please come tell me the instant someone holds a gun on you and you take your hands out of your pocket, and "do the right thing". Tell me about how brave you were, how you didn't crap your pants, or cry like a baby. Tell me how it payed off and the person holding the gun saw the error of their ways, and stopped mid crime to thank you. Or better yet, have someone tell me when and where your funeral is.... This guy got lucky. Yeah, he is an idiot, a brave one who should be honored and taken care of. On the off chance that he actually had not succeeded and actually pissed off the bad guy more could have been bad, ver bad, and included innocent lives that didnt ask to be part of martyrdom.

• Correction to above comment: You can needlessly risk your life--not what heroes do--or feel like it at least.... Thatisall.

• Or possibly more heroes at heart would feel they won't be called "idiots" by fellow citizens for interrupting a crime, and will get help for their wounds. I just luvluvluv people who think you should stand around just staring at crime, keeping your hands in your pockets. Castro would be proud. Because heroes at heart aren't in it for a "pay off." As if getting your medicals bills covered is considered a pay off. You can needlessly risk your life--not what these heroes did--or feel like it at least, by appearing on any number of stupid "reality" tv shows, and actually get a chance to win some coin while at it. To our amusement, versus dismay. Chongo, I like the idea, a lot.

• @TwistedCherry - True, but then thats where my other idea of a Common Sense clause gets added as well. Each situation should be judged on a case by case basis... This guy, regardless of being stupid (yes I think he was an idiot for getting involved) is now stuck with 75k in medical bills because the system sucks. I wonder though if they sell the criminals assets and whatever else they confiscated, will they help pay the guys bills? doubt it.

• Then that would possibly cause more idiots trying to be the hero. In the field I work in, it really does not pay off as much as people think "to be the hero".

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