Professionalism & Ethical Medical Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real ABPS 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 & Ethical Medical Practice flashcards as text
A physician discovers that a colleague is practicing medicine while impaired by alcohol. What is the most appropriate first step?
Answer: Confront the colleague privately and encourage them to seek help
The first appropriate step is a private confrontation encouraging the colleague to seek treatment, though persistent impairment requires escalation to protect patients.
Which ethical principle requires physicians to distribute healthcare resources fairly across patient populations?
Answer: Justice
Justice obligates physicians to allocate healthcare resources equitably and without discrimination.
A patient refuses a blood transfusion on religious grounds despite a life-threatening hemorrhage. The physician should:
Answer: Respect the refusal if the patient is competent and informed
A competent, informed adult has the right to refuse treatment, including life-saving transfusions, based on personal or religious beliefs.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'therapeutic privilege'?
Answer: Withholding information when disclosure would harm the patient
Therapeutic privilege allows withholding information if disclosure would cause significant psychological harm, though it is generally discouraged and rarely justified.
A pharmaceutical company offers a physician a paid vacation in exchange for prescribing their medication. This situation best represents:
Answer: A conflict of interest that should be avoided
Accepting gifts or benefits from pharmaceutical companies in exchange for prescribing is a conflict of interest that violates professional ethics.
During a malpractice deposition, a physician is asked about a colleague's competence. Ethically, the physician should:
Answer: Provide honest and accurate testimony
Physicians have an ethical obligation to provide truthful testimony in legal proceedings, even when it may reflect negatively on a colleague.
A patient asks their physician to sign a disability form claiming a condition more severe than what exists. The physician should:
Answer: Refuse and explain that accurate documentation is required
Physicians must document conditions accurately; falsifying disability forms constitutes fraud and violates professional and legal standards.