Formerly known as the Medical Amnesty Protocol (MAP)

• HELP! My friend drank too much. What do I do?

It is imperative someone call for medical assistance when individual experiences severe intoxication or a serious injury after consuming alcohol or other drugs (AOD). Because these emergencies are potentially life-threatening, Cornell seeks to reduce barriers to seeking assistance. To this end, the Good Samaritan Protocol has been developed. Cornell’s Good Samaritan Protocol:

a) eliminates judicial consequences for:

• students and/or organizations seeking assistance
• the assisted individual
• others involved.

b) applies when the allegations under the Campus Code of Conduct or organization’s policies involve:

• underage consumption of alcohol
• use of drugs
• disorderly conduct

c) does not preclude disciplinary action regarding other violations, such as:

• causing or threatening physical harm
• sexual violence 
• damage to property
• fake identification
• unlawful provision of alcohol or other drugs
• harassment
• hazing

This Cornell Protocol is similar to New York State’s Good Samaritan law, but Cornell’s Good Samaritan Protocol applies only to university policies and New York’s Good Samaritan law only applies to state law.
 
In order for this protocol to apply, the assisted student must agree to timely completion of assigned alcohol and/or drug education activities,^*  assessment, and/or treatment (assigned by Cornell University depending on the level of concern for student health and safety). 

• Failure to complete recommended follow-up will normally result in revocation of judicial amnesty.
• Repeated incidents may prompt a higher degree of medical concern with the possibility of non-judicial university responses, such as parental notification and health leaves of absence.

Likewise, organizations involved in an incident must agree to take recommended steps to address concerns, such as educational follow up.  Multiple incidents may result in revocation of an organization’s recognition. 

This protocol is part of Cornell’s comprehensive approach to reducing the harmful consequences caused by the use of alcohol or other drugs.  The following offices have agreed to implement this protocol: Cornell University Police Department; Office of the Judicial Administrator; Dean of Students Office; Office of Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living; Residential Programs; and Gannett Health Services.

The Good Samaritan Protocol represents the University's commitment to increasing the likelihood that community members will call for medical assistance when faced with an AOD emergency. The Good Samaritan Protocol also promotes education for individuals who receive emergency medical attention related to their own use of alcohol or other drugs in order to reduce the likelihood of future occurrences.
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 * For the first incident, the BASICS program (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) will be utilized. For subsequent incidents, appropriate interventions will be handled on a case by case basis.

A note about fraternities

On March 2011, the student-run Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) passed a resolution which resolved to apply Medical Amnesty/Good Sam within their organization. View related Cornell Daily Sun article, March 17, 2011.

Since the implementation of this protocol in the fall of 2002, we have found an increase in on-campus alcohol-related calls to the emergency medical services (EMS). However, the percent of these calls requiring a hospital emergency room visit has decreased. 

For findings regarding the efficacy of the protocol, as well as suggestions for other campuses considering replicating MAP/Good Samaritan, please see the International Journal of Drug Policy, July 2006.

Cornell Pages

• Cornell AOD Initiatives
• Cornell Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Policy
• Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS)
• Blood Alcohol Concentration* (BAC) Calculator
• AOD services at Gannett, on-campus, and in the community

Other

• 911 Good Samaritan: Explaining New York's Fatal Overdose Prevention Law; Drug Policy Alliance
• Students Spread Awareness of Medical Amnesty Law; Cornell Daily Sun; September 27, 2011
• NY Senate Open Legislation A2063B-2011; Provides limitations on use of evidence obtained in connection with a person seeking or receiving health care for a drug overdose.
• Drug, Alcohol Amnesty Law Will Protect Students Off Campus; Cornell Daily Sun; August 29, 2011
• Gov. Cuomo Signs Law to Help Reduce Overdose Deaths; Gabriel Sayegh,  New York State Director, Drug Policy Alliance; July 24, 2011
• NY State Assembly Passes 911 Good Samaritan Bill to Curb Escalating Drug and Alcohol Overdose Deaths; June 6, 2011
  

If you have any questions regarding the Good Samaritan Protocol, please contact:

Mary Elizabeth Grant
Office of the Judicial Administrator
500 Day Hall
607 255-4680