Professionalism, Ethics & Patient Safety 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 Professionalism, Ethics & Patient Safety flashcards as text
An anesthesiologist discovers intraoperatively that the informed consent form was signed by the patient's adult son without documented power of attorney. The patient is now under general anesthesia for a non-emergent procedure. What is the best course of action?
Answer: Complete only life-saving portions, then wake the patient and obtain proper consent
Without valid consent for a non-emergent procedure, the anesthesiologist should not proceed beyond what is necessary for the patient's immediate safety.
The Universal Protocol for preventing wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-patient errors requires which three core components?
Answer: Preoperative verification, site marking, and time-out
The Joint Commission's Universal Protocol mandates a preoperative verification process, surgical site marking, and a pre-incision time-out.
A pharmaceutical company offers an anesthesiologist an all-expenses-paid trip to a conference where only their products are discussed. According to AMA and ASA ethics guidelines, this arrangement is best characterized as:
Answer: An inappropriate gift that could create a conflict of interest
Industry-sponsored travel that promotes specific products creates conflicts of interest inconsistent with physician professionalism standards.
A patient with a DNR order requires an appendectomy. Which approach to the DNR in the perioperative period is most consistent with ASA guidelines?
Answer: Discuss the DNR with the patient and tailor resuscitation goals to their perioperative wishes
ASA policy recommends 'required reconsideration' of DNR orders perioperatively through shared decision-making rather than automatic suspension or automatic honoring.
Which behavior most strongly reflects the professional value of 'accountability' for an anesthesiologist?
Answer: Acknowledging mistakes, reporting them, and participating in corrective action
Accountability requires that physicians personally own their errors, report them transparently, and actively engage in improvement efforts.
A second-year anesthesiology resident feels pressured by a senior attending to perform an awake fiberoptic intubation on a mildly combative patient without adequate consent. The resident's primary obligation is to:
Answer: Advocate for the patient's rights and raise concern through appropriate channels
Residents have an independent ethical obligation to protect patient rights even when facing hierarchical pressure.
Which of the following is a primary goal of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF)?
Answer: Eliminating patient injury and death associated with anesthesia
The APSF's mission is that no patient should be harmed by the effects of anesthesia, focusing on safety research, education, and communication.