Good Samaritan laws generally provide legal protection to individuals who

• A. Bill patients for emergency services
• B. Provide emergency care without liability for ordinary negligence
• C. Reserve liability
• D. License nurses

Answer: (B)

Liability protection for bystanders who render emergency care. Good Samaritan laws are meant to encourage people to help in emergencies by reducing their fear of being sued if something goes wrong. They generally shield a well-intentioned helper from liability for ordinary negligence when they provide aid in an emergency, as long as the person acts in good faith, within the limits of their training, and without charging for services. The protection usually doesn’t apply if the helper acts with gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional harm, or if the rescuer steps outside the appropriate scope of practice.

That understanding matches the idea that you provide emergency care without liability for ordinary negligence, which is the essence of these laws. The other options don’t fit because they concern billing, an unclear concept like “reserve liability,” or licensing nurses, none of which describe the protective purpose of Good Samaritan statutes.