26岁的艾米·鲍登（Amy Bowden）于2024年2月在南澳大利亚因海洛因过量身亡[1]。她的男友伊桑·罗斯（Ethan Ross）发现她无反应后，并未拨打紧急服务电话，而是注射冰毒试图救助她[1]。从她初次过量到罗斯拨打救护车之间相隔24小时[1]。
罗斯因施用管制药物被起诉并认罪，获判9个月监禁[1]。然而，他未被控导致鲍登死亡的相关罪名。判刑法官表示："你没有被控实施危及生命的行为或对鲍登死亡有贡献的行为。你没有被控犯刑事过失。"[1]
鲍登的母亲米歇尔·斯波西托（Michelle Sposito）目前正向南澳大利亚州总理彼得·马利诺斯基（Peter Malinauskas）和司法部长基亚姆·马赫（Kyam Maher）请愿，要求该州改革法律，明确规定在生命危险情况下不呼救属于犯罪行为[1]。南澳大利亚目前缺乏此类明确的法律规定[1]。
A 26-year-old woman, Amy Bowden, died from a heroin overdose in South Australia in February 2024.[1] Her boyfriend, Ethan Ross, discovered her unresponsive but did not call emergency services; instead, he injected her with ice in an attempt to revive her.[1] More than 24 hours passed before he called an ambulance.[1]
Ross was charged with drug use and pleaded guilty, receiving a nine-month prison sentence.[1] However, he was not charged in connection with Bowden's death itself.[1] The sentencing judge stated: "You have not been charged with engaging in conduct that endangers life or conduct that contributed to Bowden's death. You have not been charged with manslaughter."[1]
South Australia currently has no explicit law criminalizing the failure to seek emergency help when someone's life is in danger.[1] Bowden's mother, Michelle Sposito, is now petitioning South Australia's Premier Peter Malinauskas and Attorney-General Kyam Maher to reform the law and close this legislative gap.[1]