(China Youth Daily/Zhao Shunqing)

A total of 73.7 percent of people support providing Good Samaritans with rewards when they take a stand against injustice, according to a survey conducted by the Social Survey Center of China Youth Daily and online survey platform Wenjuan.com. Just over 2,000 respondents were questioned, with a roughly equal divide of men and women.

The survey found that 51.9 percent of respondents believe that people should perform Good Samaritan acts according to their abilities, while always looking out for their own safety. In addition, 38.4 percent thought such acts have real merit and encouraged everybody to perform them. Another 8.3 percent said people should avoid Good Samaritan acts because they could cause unnecessary damage.

Some brave individuals lack the wisdom and skills to intervene successfully, and courage alone is not enough to save people, opined Peng Liang, who works in finance in Beijing.

According to the survey, people choose not to be Good Samaritans for various reasons. For example, 66.5 percent of respondents worried that their good intentions could get them in trouble, while 58.4 percent expressed concern over victims feigning injury to demand compensation.

In addition, 40.3 percent of those questioned feel little investment in what happens to strangers around them, and 29.1 percent think they are not capable of helping others. Lack of assistance is another reason cited for bystanders sitting out the fight against injustice.

China's basic medical education is insufficient, said associate professor Zhu Wei from China University of Political Science and Law. Zhu noted that there will be no good outcomes if helpers don't know the proper way to save a life.

Among the 73.7 percent of respondents who support rewarding Good Samaritans, 73.2 percent believe the potential Good Samaritans' medical expenses should be covered, and 72.9 percent believe material incentives should be implemented. However, 6.1 percent say that a reward is unnecessary.

Zhu pointed out that the current process to build a system aiding Good Samaritans is slow.

"There is always a lack of corresponding titles or rewards for those who stand up against unjust acts," Zhu said, adding that aid for Good Samaritans should be made a common practice.