Were they right to leave him?

[Evil Moo]

Originally posted here by dalek
...if you take a registered course in First Aid (such as the Red Cross provides) then you are "obligated" to respond to a situation where loss of life may be occurring, if you don't then you should and could be held accountable...

Wrong. As a practicing EMT with several certifications through Red Cross, and also training to be a Nurse in Emergency Services...there is no obligation at all--especially if there is risk to self. If you start treatment, then and only then is there any obligation to help until they are safe or further help arrives.

There are only a few people accountable in this whole incident. First and foremost, the climber--then the Party Leader and Sherpas. Anyone else is completely innocent.

If I were related to the deceased I would be contacting solicitor's this very moment to see if I could at least take these individuals to civil court and sue their asses off.

Which is one reason why I want to go into the Peace Corps and practice outside of the West. In the West people want to sue you if you:
A) Save them
B) Try to save them (Even if hopless)
C) Do Nothing
D) Are anywhere near the vicinity of the injury.

[dalek]

Maybe "Obligated" was too strong a word, probably should have used the word duty?

Duty of care

“Duty of care” is a term used to describe the legal duty owed by one person to another to act in a certain way. As a first aider, you have a duty of care towards your casualties to exercise reasonable care and skill in providing first aid treatment. The duty arises because you have knowledge and skills relevant to a medical emergency situation. If you choose to provide first aid assistance, you have a duty to use your knowledge and skills in a responsible way.

Now it does say choose, so obviously there is still the "opt out" option to walk away? Yes you are correct, once you have started to provide First Aid, then you are "obligated" to remain if safe to do so, until help arrives.

In this scenario, most if not all participants will have at least taken a basic survival course and probably basic First Aid, if not then they don't belong on this Mtn. So as was stated earlier, if the conditions are such then to further risk life was not feasible, according to them then they must think of themselves...however if there was a moment where conditions were such that at least the offer of comfort or possibly have someone stay behind to ensure or try to keep the individual alive until the team can pick him up on the descent, maybe they should have tried?

Which is one reason why I want to go into the Peace Corps and practice outside of the West.

Good Luck....