A year ago, a Utah State University student died of alcohol poisoning after drinking a bottle of vodka during a fraternity pledge ritual. The family of Michael Starks believes his life could have been saved. But the students around him delayed reporting Michael's medical emergency because they feared punishment.

The Starks family also believes that other lives could be saved if Utah passed a Good Samaritan law. It would shield people from criminal prosecution who seek medical assistance for someone who has overdosed from alcohol or other drugs. The Starks are asking Utahns to sign a petition urging the Legislature to pass a Good Samaritan law (see michaelstarks.org). We agree with the Starks' proposal.

It makes sense that people at a party or other gathering would be more likely to pick up the phone and call 911 to report a drug-related emergency if they did not fear punishment from the police or, in the case of colleges, from the administration. Partiers who are drunk or high often don't think clearly. But if Utah passed a Good Samaritan law, and it was widely publicized, we believe that someone in the room would be more likely to call 911, even through the fog of alcohol or drugs.

Critics will object that such a law would appear to condone underage drinking and the use of illegal drugs. Obviously, it might limit prosecutions. The critics might be more likely to support a law that would make it a criminal offense not to call 911 and get aid for someone in distress. But if the students in the Starks case didn't call because they feared punishment, we doubt that passing another law creating another crime and the possibility of more punishment is going to cause people to do the right thing.

Simply put, we believe that saving lives should trump all other considerations. A study at Cornell University, which has a Good Samaritan policy, shows that students do summon medical help more often when they don't fear reprisal.

Usually these policies do not exempt callers from drug counseling and rehab programs. But to work, they must be written down as part of university policy and they must be widely known. Otherwise, they are of little use.

Utah legislators should give the model of the Good Samaritan a try. Such a law could be crafted to give legal immunity to people who call 911 in good faith and in a timely fashion to report an overdose. Michael Starks was not the first Utahn to die because someone was afraid to call. But with the Legislature's help, the chance that there will be others could be reduced.