Professional Standards & Competencies Flashcards
7 cards from real ABFM 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 Standards & Competencies flashcards as text
When a forensic physician is asked by an attorney to alter findings in a report to favor their client, the appropriate response is:
Answer: Refuse and document the request
Forensic physicians must refuse requests to alter findings and should document such requests to protect their integrity.
The principle of 'reasonable medical certainty' in forensic testimony means:
Answer: More likely than not true based on medical knowledge
Reasonable medical certainty means the opinion is more probable than not, typically exceeding 50% likelihood based on medical knowledge.
A forensic medicine expert witness discovers mid-trial that their initial report contained a calculation error. They should:
Answer: Disclose the error to the court and correct the record
Expert witnesses have a duty to the court requiring disclosure and correction of errors regardless of which party it may disadvantage.
Which body primarily governs the ethical standards for board-certified forensic medicine physicians in the US?
Answer: American Board of Forensic Medicine and relevant specialty boards
The ABFM, along with relevant specialty boards and state licensing authorities, collectively govern professional and ethical standards for certified forensic physicians.
Daubert standards, as applied to forensic medicine testimony, primarily require that expert opinions be:
Answer: Derived from generally accepted methods in the scientific community
Under Daubert, courts evaluate whether expert methods are scientifically reliable and generally accepted, not merely personally experienced.
When performing an independent medical examination (IME) for a defense attorney, the forensic physician's primary duty is to:
Answer: Produce an objective, unbiased medical assessment
IME physicians must remain objective regardless of which party retains them, as their credibility depends on impartiality.
Continuing medical education (CME) requirements for ABFM-certified physicians primarily serve to:
Answer: Ensure practitioners maintain current knowledge and competencies
CME requirements exist to ensure forensic medicine practitioners stay current with evolving standards, science, and legal developments.