A duty to rescue is a concept in the law of torts that arises in a narrow number of cases, describing a circumstance in which a party can be held liable for failing to come to the rescue of another party in peril. In common law, there is no general duty to come to the rescue of another and a person cannot be prosecuted for doing nothing while another person is in peril.

A duty to rescue arises where a person creates a hazardous situation. If another person then falls into peril because of this hazardous situation, the creator of the hazard has a duty to rescue the individual in peril.

Such a duty also arises where certain relationships exist. For example:

• Emergency workers (police, firefighters, EMTs, etc.) have a duty to rescue within the scope of their employment
• Parents have a duty to rescue their minor children
• Common carriers have a duty to rescue their patrons
• Property owners have a duty to rescue invitees from all dangers on the property
• Some U.S. states assess such a duty to spouses as well.

Where a duty to rescue arises, the rescuer must generally act with reasonable care, and can be held liable for injuries caused by a reckless rescue attempt. However, many states have limited or removed liability from rescuers in such circumstances, particularly where the rescuer is an emergency worker. Furthermore, the rescuer need not endanger himself in conducting the rescue.

The rescue doctrine, which allows rescuers to recover for their own injuries in such circumstances, does not apply where the rescuers are acting pursuant to duty arising from their own creation of the peril.

Tort law