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.