The Good Samaritan statute covers which individuals?

• A. Only licensed medical professionals
• B. Any person who provides first aid without expectation of monetary compensation
• C. Only individuals who volunteer at hospitals
• D. Only residents of NY

Answer: (B)

Good Samaritan protections are designed to encourage people to help in an emergency by shielding those who assist in good faith from civil liability for ordinary negligence, as long as they aren’t compensated for the aid. The best choice reflects this broad intent: anyone who provides first aid without expectation of monetary compensation. This captures the idea that the protection isn’t limited to doctors, nurses, or hospital volunteers, and it isn’t restricted to people from a particular state. In practice, the specifics can vary by jurisdiction, and protections may not apply if the aid is grossly negligent or outside the emergency context, but the core concept is help given voluntarily at the scene without payment. The other options are too narrow: restricting to licensed professionals, to hospital volunteers, or to residents of a specific state doesn’t align with how Good Samaritan laws are typically understood.