ADM Medical Ethics & Patient Rights 3

Question 1

A patient with severe alcohol use disorder is brought to the ED intoxicated and unable to consent. They have no advance directive. What guides the physician's treatment decisions?

Accepted Answer

Best interest standard given the patient's incapacity

Answer

When a patient lacks decision-making capacity and no surrogate or advance directive is available, the best interest standard guides treatment.

Question 2

A physician learns that a patient in a buprenorphine program is driving while impaired. After counseling the patient, the behavior continues. What is the next most appropriate step?

Accepted Answer

Consult state law regarding duty-to-warn obligations and consider notification of authorities if required

Answer

Physicians must balance confidentiality with duty-to-protect obligations defined by state law when a patient poses a danger to others.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the ethical concept of 'therapeutic privilege'?

Accepted Answer

Withholding information from a patient when disclosure would harm them, justifying paternalistic non-disclosure

Answer

Therapeutic privilege refers to withholding information from a patient on the grounds that disclosure would cause harm, though it is widely criticized as undermining autonomy.

Question 4

A patient with opioid use disorder discloses active heroin use during a confidential research study on addiction treatment. The researcher suspects the patient is also selling heroin. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Maintain research confidentiality as agreed in the consent form and consult the IRB if needed

Answer

Research participants are protected by the terms of the consent agreement; deviations require IRB consultation unless imminent danger exists.

Question 5

A physician practicing addiction medicine observes a colleague diverting controlled substances for personal use. What is the ethically required response?

Accepted Answer

Report the conduct to the appropriate institutional or licensing authority

Answer

Physicians have a professional obligation to report colleague impairment or misconduct that poses a risk to patient safety.

(ADM) Board Certified Addiction Medicine Specialist Practice Test

(ADM) Board Certified Addiction Medicine Specialist Practice Test

ADM Medical Ethics & Patient Rights 3