Final answer:
The Good Samaritan Law defends healthcare professionals like nurses who provide emergency aid at accident scenes, offering legal protection when they render care in good faith and within their expertise.
Step-by-step explanation:
The state law that would typically be used in defense of a nurse who provides first aid at the scene of an accident is known as the Good Samaritan Law. These laws are designed to protect individuals who assist those who are injured or in danger; in the case of a nurse, it would shield her from liability provided she acted in a non-negligent manner and within the scope of her medical knowledge while volunteering assistance in an emergency.
Every state in the U.S. has some form of Good Samaritan Law, but the specifics can vary. Generally, these laws require that the help provided must be voluntary, without expectation of compensation, and within the realm of the helper's knowledge and abilities. For instance, a nurse is expected to have more medical knowledge than an average passerby and therefore her actions will be evaluated in light of her professional expertise.
In the context of the various situations presented, such as deciding whether to stop at an accident scene despite being late for an appointment, or choosing to disregard a traffic regulation to transport a pregnant woman to the hospital, Good Samaritan Laws protect those who make choices aimed at helping others in immediate need. These scenarios illustrate the ethical principle of utilitarianism, which suggests that the moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome, or utility, in maximizing overall good or happiness.