ABFM Professional Standards and Ethics 2

Question 1

A patient with terminal cancer asks their family physician not to disclose the diagnosis to family members. The physician should:

Accepted Answer

Respect the patient's wishes and maintain confidentiality

Answer

Competent adult patients have the right to control their medical information, including deciding who receives their diagnosis.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the ethical principle of 'justice' in medical practice?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring fair distribution of healthcare resources and equal treatment

Answer

Justice in medicine refers to fair and equitable distribution of benefits, risks, and healthcare resources across patient populations.

Question 3

A physician discovers that a colleague is impaired by alcohol during call coverage. The most appropriate first step is to:

Accepted Answer

Immediately remove the colleague from patient care and report to administration

Answer

Patient safety takes priority; the impaired physician must be removed from care immediately and reported through appropriate channels.

Question 4

When obtaining informed consent, which element is most critical to document?

Accepted Answer

The patient's demonstrated understanding of risks, benefits, and alternatives

Answer

True informed consent requires documentation that the patient understood the material information, not merely that they signed a form.

Question 5

A 16-year-old presents requesting contraception without parental knowledge. Under most US state laws, the physician should:

Accepted Answer

Provide contraception as minors typically have the right to confidential reproductive care

Answer

Most states grant minors the right to confidential reproductive health services, including contraception, without parental consent.

(ABFM) American Board of Family Medicine Practice Test