Whenever a person can save another person’s life,
but he doesn’t do so, he violates a negative commandment,
as Leviticus 19:16 states:
“Do not stand idly by while your brother’s blood is at stake.”
Similarly, this commandment applies
when a person sees someone drowning at sea
or being attacked by robbers or a wild animal,
and he can save the person himself,
or can hire others to save him.
Similarly, it applies when he hears people conspiring to harm or trap someone,
and he does not notify that person of the danger.46
And it applies when a person knows of a gentile
or a man of force who has a complaint against a friend,
and he can appease the aggressor on behalf of that person, but he does not.
And similarly, in all analogous instances,
a person who fails to act violates the commandment:
“Do not stand idly by while your brother’s blood is at stake.”
Students commentary : According to Rambam,
a person who can save another person’s life,
and doesn’t do it, has violated the law.
