AAMC Medical Ethics and Professionalism

Question 1

Which ethical principle obligates physicians to respect a patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Nonmaleficence

Answer

Justice

Question 2

For informed consent to be legally and ethically valid, it must include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A guarantee of a successful outcome

Answer

Disclosure of risks and benefits

Answer

Confirmation that the patient is competent

Answer

The patient's voluntary agreement

Question 3

The Belmont Report (1979) identified three core principles for ethical research involving human subjects. Which of the following is one of them?

Accepted Answer

Respect for Persons

Answer

Veracity

Answer

Fidelity

Answer

Utility

Question 4

A physician withholds a terminal diagnosis from a patient because they believe the news will cause psychological harm. This practice is known as:

Accepted Answer

Therapeutic privilege

Answer

Beneficent paternalism

Answer

Medical futility

Answer

Surrogate decision-making

Question 5

Which ethical principle requires physicians to 'do no harm' to their patients?

Accepted Answer

Nonmaleficence

Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Justice

Answer

Beneficence

Question 6

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is primarily responsible for:

Accepted Answer

Protecting the rights and welfare of human research participants

Answer

Accrediting medical schools on behalf of the AAMC

Answer

Credentialing physicians for hospital privileges

Answer

Managing conflict-of-interest disclosures for pharmaceutical companies

Question 7

The doctrine of double effect holds that an action with both a good and harmful effect is ethically permissible when:

Accepted Answer

The harmful effect is unintended and proportionate to the good achieved

Answer

The physician intends the harmful effect to achieve the good effect

Answer

The patient has not consented to the treatment

Answer

The treatment is experimental and not yet FDA-approved