扶老人風險基金(fúlǎorén fēngxiǎn jījīn): Risk fund for those who help the elderly

In recent years, there have been many reports of good Samaritans who have gone to the aid of an elderly person being accused of being the cause of the elderly person's accident and then sued for compensation.

On Saturday, a charity organization in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province, established the country's first risk fund for those kind-hearted people who fall into trouble after going to the assistance of a senior citizen.

The initial fund is 200,000 yuan ($29,460). Any good Samaritan who gets into trouble can call the hotline, and the organization will send staff to investigate the incident, collect evidence and provide free legal aid, medical expenses, as well as compensation to the good Samaritan.

The scandalous behavior of elderly people extorting money from good Samaritans has had a negative social influence, as it has made people reluctant to help others in need.

The fund provides sound protection to good Samaritans including legal, medical and financial aid, which aims to encourage the public to extend a helping hand to people in need.

Experts said although such third party safeguards are welcome, the whole of society should cultivate a sense of duty and integrity and avoid doing wrong to good Samaritans. In addition, laws and regulations should be improved to protect good Samaritans.