AF Medical Ethics & Patient Rights 3

Question 1

An AF patient with dementia cannot make decisions about his own care. Who is the legally and ethically appropriate decision-maker?

Accepted Answer

The patient's legally designated healthcare proxy or surrogate

Answer

When a patient lacks decision-making capacity, a legally designated healthcare proxy or surrogate is the appropriate decision-maker.

Question 2

A pharmaceutical representative offers a nurse gift cards in exchange for recommending a specific anticoagulant to AF patients. This situation represents:

Accepted Answer

A conflict of interest that violates professional ethics

Answer

Accepting gifts from pharmaceutical companies in exchange for prescribing or recommending products is an ethical violation and may be illegal.

Question 3

A nurse overhears a physician discussing a patient's AF diagnosis loudly in a public hallway. The nurse's most appropriate action is to:

Accepted Answer

Address the confidentiality concern with the physician privately

Answer

Discussing patient information in public areas violates confidentiality; the nurse should address this professionally with the physician.

Question 4

Which scenario BEST demonstrates the ethical principle of beneficence in AF management?

Accepted Answer

Prescribing anticoagulation therapy to reduce a patient's stroke risk

Answer

Beneficence means acting in the patient's best interest; prescribing evidence-based anticoagulation to reduce stroke risk exemplifies this principle.

Question 5

A competent AF patient refuses a recommended TEE procedure. The care team should:

Accepted Answer

Document the refusal and explore the patient's concerns and reasoning

Answer

Respecting autonomy requires accepting refusal from competent patients while documenting the decision and addressing underlying concerns.

(AF) Atrial Fibrillation Certification Practice Test

(AF) Atrial Fibrillation Certification Practice Test

AF Medical Ethics & Patient Rights 3