Protección legal al buscar ayuda en casos de sobredosis o violencia sexual

Explicación Simple

Si alguien se siente muy mal por una sobredosis o ha sido víctima de violencia, puede llamar a la policía o a los servicios médicos sin miedo a ser arrestado. Esto ayuda a que las personas se sientan seguras al buscar ayuda en momentos difíciles.

Es como cuando tienes un amigo que se lastima jugando fútbol; no te preocupas por si se enoja porque lo llevas al doctor, solo quieres que esté bien.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan ve a su amigo Pedro inconsciente después de haber tomado demasiado alcohol. Juan llama a la ambulancia y se identifica ante la policía al llegar. Gracias a la ley, ni Juan ni Pedro serán arrestados por el consumo de alcohol, porque Juan buscó ayuda.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

If no law-enforcement officer is present at the scene of the overdose or at the alternative location, then such individual shall cooperate with law enforcement as otherwise set forth herein; 3. Such individual identifies himself to the law-enforcement officer who responds to the report of the overdose; and 4. The evidence for the prosecution of an offense enumerated in this subsection was obtained as a result of the individual seeking or obtaining emergency medical attention or rendering emergency care or assistance. C. No individual shall be subject to arrest or prosecution for the unlawful purchase, possession, or consumption of alcohol pursuant to § 4.1-305 , unlawful purchase, possession, or consumption of marijuana pursuant to § 4.1-1105.1 , possession of a controlled substance pursuant to § 18.2-250 , intoxication in public pursuant to § 18.2-388 , or possession of controlled paraphernalia pursuant to § 54.1-3466 if: 1. Such individual, in good faith, seeks or obtains assistance for himself or another individual from emergency medical services personnel, as defined in § 32.1-111.1 , a health care provider, as defined in § 8.01-581.1 , or a law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101 , and seeks to report an act of sexual violence committed against himself or another individual; 2. Such individual identifies himself to the law-enforcement officer who responds to the report of the act of sexual violence; and 3. The evidence for the prosecution of an offense enumerated in this subsection was obtained as a result of the individual seeking or obtaining medical attention, rendering care or assistance, or reporting to law enforcement. This subsection shall not apply to an individual who is alleged to have committed the act of sexual violence. D. The provisions of th