Zanash -  much as I'd rather not given your experience, which I respect greatly, I'm afraid I'm going to have to say I'm still not convinced you are correct.  The criteria I believe has very much got to be one of doing what is appropriate* rather than having the best intentions.  Were for example a first aider to attempt a surgical cricothyroidotomy (on even a patient where this is indicated) using a pen knife and a biro casing, they would I believe be on somewhat dubious ground if a legal case were to be brought against them. 

I am very open to be corrected on this, and am going to have to do a spot of investigating, but I do not think the legal precedant raised above would apply to such a case.  If you know any more details I would be very interested.  This is a question I really ought to know the answer to and so am keen to get to the bottom of.

*or perhaps what a person given their training would reasonably be expected to believe is appropriate (i.e. everyone is allowed to make mistakes).

Edit: respond in pm if you like as this is somewhat OT.