Medical Ethics & Patient Rights Flashcards
7 cards from real AK practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medical Ethics & Patient Rights flashcards as text
A patient asks their AK practitioner to share their treatment records with a family member without the patient's written authorization. What is the correct response?
Answer: Decline and explain that written patient authorization is required
HIPAA requires written patient authorization before disclosing protected health information to third parties, including family members.
Which ethical principle obligates an AK practitioner to act in the patient's best interest rather than their own?
Answer: Beneficence
Beneficence is the ethical obligation to act in the best interest and well-being of the patient.
An AK practitioner discovers a colleague is practicing outside their scope of training. The most ethical course of action is to:
Answer: Report the concern to the appropriate licensing or professional board
Reporting concerns about unsafe practice to the appropriate regulatory or professional body protects patient safety and upholds professional standards.
A patient with a chronic condition wishes to refuse a treatment the AK practitioner recommends. The practitioner should:
Answer: Respect the refusal after ensuring the patient is informed of risks
Patient autonomy includes the right to refuse treatment; the practitioner must ensure the patient is fully informed before honoring the refusal.
Which document specifically outlines a patient's wishes for care if they become unable to communicate?
Answer: Advance directive
An advance directive (such as a living will or healthcare proxy) documents a patient's care preferences for situations when they cannot speak for themselves.
When obtaining informed consent, which element is NOT required?
Answer: Guarantees of treatment success
Informed consent requires disclosure of treatment details, risks, benefits, and alternatives, but practitioners cannot and must not guarantee specific outcomes.
A minor presents for AK treatment without a parent or guardian. Under most US state laws, the practitioner should:
Answer: Postpone non-emergency treatment until a parent or guardian provides consent
Minors generally cannot legally consent to medical treatment; a parent or guardian must provide consent except in defined emergencies or emancipated minor situations.