Professional Ethics and Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real ABA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Ethics and Standards flashcards as text
The ethical concept of 'therapeutic privilege'—withholding information from a patient to avoid distress—is generally considered:
Answer: Rarely justified and largely inconsistent with modern informed consent standards
Therapeutic privilege is largely rejected in modern medical ethics because it undermines patient autonomy and informed consent.
Under ABA standards, which situation most clearly obligates an anesthesiologist to initiate a formal ethics consultation?
Answer: Irresolvable disagreement exists between the family's wishes and the patient's advance directive
An ethics consultation is warranted when there is an unresolvable conflict between the documented patient's wishes and surrogate decision-makers.
An anesthesiologist notices a billing discrepancy suggesting upcoding by the practice administrator. Their ethical obligation is to:
Answer: Address it through appropriate internal or external reporting channels
Fraudulent billing harms patients and payers; anesthesiologists must report suspected fraud through proper institutional or regulatory channels.
Which behavior by an anesthesiology resident most directly violates the ABA's professionalism standards?
Answer: Falsifying a portion of the anesthesia record to conceal an error
Falsifying medical records is a fundamental breach of honesty and integrity that violates core ABA professionalism standards.
A patient who has been adequately informed asks about an off-label use of a sedative for home use post-discharge. The anesthesiologist's ethical approach is to:
Answer: Provide evidence-based information and prescribe only if clinically justified
Off-label prescribing is legal and sometimes appropriate when evidence-based, but requires honest discussion of risks and clinical justification.
The principle of justice in anesthesia practice is best demonstrated by:
Answer: Allocating scarce anesthesia resources equitably based on clinical need
Justice requires fair allocation of limited resources based on medical need rather than social status or personal relationships.
When an anesthesiologist disagrees with a DNR order in the perioperative period, the most ethical course is to:
Answer: Discuss the order with the patient and surgeon and document a revised perioperative plan
Perioperative DNR management requires collaborative discussion with the patient and team to clarify goals of care, not automatic suspension.