ABPS Professionalism & Ethical Medical Practice 5

Question 1

A competent terminally ill patient requests physician-assisted death in a state where it is legal. The physician's ethical obligations include:

Accepted Answer

Discussing all options including palliative care, and deciding based on personal ethics and law

Answer

In jurisdictions where legal, physicians must explore all options with the patient but may decline participation based on personal ethics, as long as referral is provided.

Question 2

Which of the following behaviors violates professional boundaries in the physician-patient relationship?

Accepted Answer

Beginning a romantic relationship with a current patient

Answer

Romantic or sexual relationships with current patients are unequivocally prohibited due to the inherent power imbalance in the physician-patient relationship.

Question 3

Which approach to allocating scarce medical resources (e.g., ventilators during a pandemic) is most ethically defensible?

Accepted Answer

Prioritizing patients most likely to benefit based on transparent criteria

Answer

Evidence-based triage protocols using transparent, clinically relevant criteria maximize benefit and are the most defensible ethical framework for resource allocation.

Question 4

A physician notices a pattern of unnecessary procedures being performed by a colleague for financial gain. The appropriate action is:

Accepted Answer

Document observations and report to the appropriate oversight body

Answer

Physicians have a duty to report colleagues who engage in fraud or unnecessary procedures through proper institutional or regulatory channels.

Question 5

The ethical concept of 'futility' in medicine refers to:

Accepted Answer

Interventions that are unlikely to achieve the patient's goals or provide meaningful benefit

Answer

Medical futility refers to interventions that cannot achieve the patient's goals or provide clinically meaningful benefit, not merely financial considerations.

(ABPS) American Board of Physician Specialties Certification Practice Test

(ABPS) American Board of Physician Specialties Certification Practice Test

ABPS Professionalism & Ethical Medical Practice 5