ABCS Ethics, Safety, and Patient Management in Cosmetic Surgery 3

Question 1

A surgeon is asked by a pharmaceutical company to include their implant in all augmentation cases in exchange for travel sponsorship. This arrangement is best classified as:

Accepted Answer

A conflict of interest that must be disclosed to patients

Answer

Financial relationships with device manufacturers constitute conflicts of interest that must be disclosed to patients and, where applicable, to institutions.

Question 2

Which ASA physical status classification is generally considered the upper limit of acceptability for elective outpatient cosmetic procedures?

Accepted Answer

ASA III

Answer

ASA III patients (severe systemic disease) may be acceptable in a fully equipped surgical facility, but ASA IV represents prohibitive risk for elective outpatient cosmetic cases.

Question 3

A patient signs a consent form but later states she did not understand the risks because they were explained in medical jargon. The consent is most likely:

Accepted Answer

Invalid because true understanding was not achieved

Answer

Informed consent requires comprehension, not just signature; consent obtained without patient understanding is ethically and legally insufficient.

Question 4

When is it ethically permissible to share identifiable patient photos with a colleague for educational purposes?

Accepted Answer

Only with the patient's explicit written consent

Answer

HIPAA and ethical standards require explicit written authorization from the patient before identifiable clinical images may be shared, even for education.

Question 5

A patient discloses active cocaine use at the preoperative visit. The safest course is to:

Accepted Answer

Postpone surgery and refer for substance use evaluation

Answer

Active cocaine use markedly increases cardiovascular and anesthetic risks; surgery should be postponed until sobriety is established and medically cleared.

(ABCS) American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Certification Practice Test

(ABCS) American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Certification Practice Test

ABCS Ethics, Safety, and Patient Management in Cosmetic Surgery 3