Question

Does this "policy of noninterference" (other than to call 911) in a medical emergency extend to other kinds of emergencies? The woman collapsed in the dining hall, so it is not inconceivable that she could have slipped with her knife and cut an artery?

Answer 1

The policy of noninterference in a medical emergency extends to other kinds of emergencies also. Viewing everything on a humanitarian basis, helping a fellow human being in an emergency situation is of prime importance in the normal course. When the policy of noninterference is applied, it should be the last choice for the individual adhering to this policy so that another human being's life can be saved. Nobody can be just an onlooker when a woman collapses in the dining hall, thinking about all possibilities of harm to that individual from the fall. Anybody on the scene would run to help that struggling individual, but for an individual with a noninterference policy, this is the last choice when nobody else is there to take care. In the case of the woman who collapsed in the dining hall, it is imaginable that she could have slipped with her knife and cut an artery and needs emergency help. The nurse shouldn't simply watch her exsanguinate, but do the necessary emergency aid while 911 is on its way. She should not be ignored till the emergency squad arrived if she had a slip and fall, and hit her head. The slip and fall could end up in head concussion, which could lead to other serious conditions if left unattended till the emergency squad arrived.