AITA for not giving a kid (who I don't know) a ride to the hospital after he broke his leg?
In the ordinary hum of a routine shopping trip, a sudden, piercing scream shattered the calm, turning a mundane moment into one of raw urgency and fear.
A young skateboarder lay broken on the cold pavement, his pain and dread palpable as a stranger stepped forward amidst the chaos, faced with a choice that carried the weight of life and responsibility.
In that fleeting instant, the world contracted to a single heartbeat of decision—whether to rush recklessly toward help or summon the steady hands of emergency aid.
The stranger’s call for an ambulance was more than a phone call; it was a lifeline thrown into a sea of panic, a quiet act of courage amid the young boy’s tears and the frantic whispers of friends.
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The original poster (OP) acted out of caution and adherence to responsible procedure by calling emergency services for a severely injured stranger, despite pressure from the injured teen and his friends to drive him directly to the hospital.
This created a conflict between the OP's desire to avoid personal liability and the immediate expectation of a*sistance from the bystanders.
Was the OP wrong for prioritizing personal safety and official medical protocol over the perceived convenience of a direct ride, especially when the alternative meant potentially increased liability or risk during transport?
Should strangers intervene directly in medical emergencies involving unknown minors, or is immediate contact with official emergency responders always the correct course of action?
This Topic Lit Up the Comments Section:
The internet jumped in fast, delivering everything from kind advice to cold truth. It’s a mix of empathy, outrage, and no-nonsense takes.