ABCS Professional Standards & Ethics 2

Question 1

A cosmetic surgeon is approached by a medical device company offering significant financial incentives to exclusively use their implants. What is the most ethically appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Decline and report the offer to the hospital ethics committee

Answer

Accepting undisclosed financial incentives from device manufacturers creates a conflict of interest that compromises patient care and violates professional ethics standards.

Question 2

Under the ABCS Code of Ethics, which practice is considered a violation regarding patient referrals?

Accepted Answer

Accepting fee-splitting arrangements for patient referrals

Answer

Fee-splitting for patient referrals is prohibited under ABCS ethics standards as it places financial incentives above patient welfare.

Question 3

A patient requests a procedure that the surgeon believes is medically unnecessary but not harmful. What is the ethically correct course of action?

Accepted Answer

Discuss concerns with the patient, ensure psychological screening if indicated, and respect autonomous decision-making

Answer

Surgeons must balance patient autonomy with professional judgment, including appropriate psychological evaluation before proceeding with elective cosmetic surgery.

Question 4

Which of the following best defines 'non-maleficence' in the context of cosmetic surgery ethics?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding actions that cause unnecessary harm to the patient

Answer

Non-maleficence is the ethical obligation to avoid causing unnecessary harm, one of the four core principles of biomedical ethics.

Question 5

A cosmetic surgeon posts before-and-after patient photos on social media without written authorization. This violates which ethical and legal standard?

Accepted Answer

Patient privacy and HIPAA confidentiality requirements

Answer

Posting identifiable patient images without written consent violates HIPAA privacy rules and the ethical duty to protect patient confidentiality.

(ABCS) American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Certification Practice Test

(ABCS) American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Certification Practice Test

ABCS Professional Standards & Ethics 2