Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 12, Chapter 23, § 519. Emergency Medical Care

A person who knows another is exposed to grave physical harm shall, to the extent that the same can be rendered without danger or peril to himself or without interference with important duties owed to others, give reasonable assistance to the exposed person unless that assistance or care is being provided by others.

A Wisconsin statute is much less demanding and makes it a misdemeanor for any person to fail to summon or to provide assistance.

Wisconsin Laws 940.34. Duty to Aid Endangered Crime Victim

(1)    . . .

(2)    Any person who knows that a crime is being committed and that a victim is exposed to bodily harm shall summon law enforcement officers or other assistance or shall provide assistance to the victim. A person need not comply with this subsection if any of the following apply:

        (a)      Compliance would place him or her in danger.

        (b)      Compliance would interfere with duties the person owes to others.

        (c)      Assistance is being summoned or provided by others.

A Rhode Island law requires individuals to provide reasonable assistance to an individual who is exposed to, or who has suffered, grave physical harm.

Rhode Island Public Laws Section 11–56–1. Duty to Render Assistance

Any person at the scene of an emergency who knows that another person is exposed to, or has suffered, grave physical harm shall, to the extent that he or she can do so without danger or peril to himself or herself or to others, give reasonable assistance to the exposed person. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be subject to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding six (6) months, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.

Consider the advisability of such statutes in light of the reasons behind the American bystander rule. Compare these statutes to the broad language of the German criminal code:

Section 330c. Failure to Render Aid

Anybody who does not render aid in an accident or common danger or in an emergency situation, although aid is needed and under the circumstances can be expected of him, especially if he would not subject himself thereby to any considerable danger, or if he would not thereby violate other important duties, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not to exceed one year or a fine.