Final answer:
It is illegal to leave any living thing in a car when it endangers their health. Rule Utilitarianism suggests that breaking certain laws, like running a red light, may be morally acceptable if it produces greater utility, such as when rushing a pregnant woman about to deliver to a hospital.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is generally illegal to leave any living thing in a car when conditions pose a threat to the health or well-being of that living being. Specific laws regarding this issue can vary by jurisdiction, but the general principle is to avoid situations where animals, children, or any unattended individual may be at risk due to factors such as extreme temperatures, lack of ventilation, or other harmful conditions.
The scenario provided involves a potential moral and legal dilemma. According to Rule Utilitarianism (RU), breaking a law, like running a red light, can be considered morally acceptable if doing so produces the greatest amount of utility (happiness, welfare, or well-being) for the greatest number of people. Therefore, if a pregnant woman in the back seat of a car is about to deliver at 4 AM with no other cars around, and the vehicle is 2 miles from the hospital, the RU would argue that going through the red light is justified as it will likely result in more overall utility by ensuring the woman's and her baby's safety.