Is there a law that says you have to care for a minor that isn’t your child?
<p>If a minor that isn’t your child would die if unhelped, and you were the only one that could help them, is there any law saying you have to?</p>

<h2>The law imposes no general duty to “care for” anyone</h2>

<p>For example, unless you are a lifeguard, there is no duty to render aid to a drowning person.</p>

<p>There are a number of specific duties including:</p>

<ul>
<li>the duty of a parent or guardian to provide for and keep safe a child</li>
<li>a similar duty for anyone standing <em>in loco parentis</em> - in the place of a parent. This can be a person or an organisation: a babysitter is an example of the former, a school is an example of the latter.</li>
<li>a duty under negligence where you have a duty of care</li>
<li>a duty to report child abuse (including neglect) that is imposed on some occupations</li>
<li>a general duty to report crimes that may be imposed on all members of the public in some jurisdictions </li>
<li>a duty to stop and render aid imposed on drivers</li>
</ul>

<p>This list is not exhaustive.</p>

<p>You generally won't be legally punished if you don't rescue someone in need.</p>

<p>There are two exceptions to this.</p>

<ol>
<li>If you created a hazardous situation in which someone is injured.</li>
<li>A parent has a duty to rescue their minor from a dangerous situation.  </li>
</ol>

<p>information from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Duty to rescue</a>.</p>

<p>Some states do have laws called "Good Samaritan law", which do increase your level of responsibility to others in need, but those vary state by state.</p>

<p>On the other hand, if you start a rescue you are responsible to see it through, and if your effort to rescue results in the situation becoming worse you could be held liable.      </p>

liability minor