Ethics and Professional Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real AMC MCQ practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics and Professional Practice flashcards as text
A patient sustained a suspicious injury and you suspect domestic violence. The competent adult patient asks you not to report it. What is the general approach?
Answer: Respect the competent adult's wishes while offering support and information, unless a mandatory reporting law applies
For competent adults, you generally respect their autonomy and offer support unless specific mandatory reporting laws apply.
You suspect a child is being abused. What is your professional obligation in Australia?
Answer: Make a mandatory report to child protection authorities based on reasonable suspicion
Doctors are mandated reporters and must report reasonable suspicion of child abuse to authorities.
A patient requests a treatment that you believe is not clinically indicated and may cause harm. What should you do?
Answer: Decline to provide non-beneficial or harmful treatment while explaining your reasoning and alternatives
Autonomy does not compel a doctor to provide treatment that is harmful or not clinically indicated.
A doctor has a sexual relationship with a current patient. Under professional codes this is:
Answer: A serious breach of professional boundaries and notifiable conduct
Sexual relationships with current patients are a serious boundary violation and constitute notifiable conduct.
When a doctor conscientiously objects to a procedure such as termination of pregnancy, they must still:
Answer: Inform the patient and refer them to another practitioner who can assist, in a timely manner
Conscientious objection requires the doctor to disclose the objection and facilitate timely access to another provider.
A patient's records are subpoenaed by a court. What is the correct response?
Answer: Comply with the valid legal order while disclosing only what is required
A valid court order is a legal exception to confidentiality, and you should disclose only the information required.
Which best describes 'non-maleficence' as a core ethical principle?
Answer: Avoiding causing harm to the patient
Non-maleficence is the duty to avoid causing harm, captured by 'first, do no harm'.