While New York police are searching for a man suspected of pushing a father onto the subway tracks where he was fatally struck by an oncoming train, I think they should also have a conversation with a man who focused on his picture rather than helping the victim. 

The New York Post says the victim, identified as 58-year-old Ki Suk Han, was attempting to "protect fellow straphangers from a deranged man" at the 49th Street station when he was suddenly shoved onto the tracks by the suspect.

Bystanders frantically waved and yelled, trying to halt the oncoming train, but their attempts proved futile.  No one tried to help the man get back on the platform!  No one including the man claiming to be a "freelance" photographer.

This freelance photographer happened to be on the platform and captured the moment just before Han's death. In the photo on the front page of the New York Post you can see Han trying to hoist himself up onto the platform, as the train comes barreling towards him.

Umar Abbasi says he attempted to warn the train conductor by using the flash of his camera.  Wrong, very wrong!

As members of society, we have a certain social responsibility. This includes helping others who are in trouble and why in Quebec we have a “Good Samaritan" law.  As a general rule, the law requires you to help someone whose life is in danger. For instance, this obligation applies to a driver involved in a traffic accident. It also applies to anyone who witnesses something that needs emergency action.  

The common law provinces have no laws making it obligatory for people to help someone in need.

Quebec is unique in Canada in imposing a duty on everyone to help a person in peril. The duty to take action stems from the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms enacted in 1975, and the Civil Code.

The Charter contains a provision that imposes an obligation to render aid if it can be accomplished without serious risk to the good samaritan or a third person. There is still little jurisprudence interpreting these provisions.

Under the Civil Code, every person is obligated to act as a bon pere de famille, broadly defined as a reasonably prudent person. Failure to do so would amount to fault and lead to legal wrong.