Professional Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real AMCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Ethics flashcards as text
A medical assistant overhears a physician making a derogatory comment about a patient's lifestyle. The assistant should:
Answer: Address the concern privately with the physician or report it per facility policy
Unprofessional conduct that demeans patients should be addressed through appropriate channels to maintain a respectful care environment.
Informed consent is considered ethically valid only when the patient:
Answer: Has received information, understands it, and voluntarily agrees
Valid informed consent requires disclosure of information, patient comprehension, and voluntary agreement free from coercion.
Which scenario represents a breach of patient confidentiality?
Answer: Discussing a patient's diagnosis loudly in a crowded waiting room
Discussing identifiable patient information in public areas violates HIPAA and breaches patient confidentiality.
The term 'scope of practice' in the context of professional ethics refers to:
Answer: The range of duties a medical assistant is legally and professionally authorized to perform
Scope of practice defines the procedures, actions, and processes a healthcare professional is permitted to perform based on training and licensure.
A patient requests access to their own medical records. Under HIPAA, the medical assistant should:
Answer: Provide access promptly, typically within 30 days of the request
HIPAA grants patients the right to access their own health records, and covered entities must respond within 30 days.
An ethical obligation to 'do no harm' is captured by which principle?
Answer: Non-maleficence
Non-maleficence is the principle that healthcare providers must avoid causing unnecessary harm to patients.
When a patient from a different cultural background refuses eye contact during the consultation, the medical assistant should:
Answer: Recognize this as a possible cultural norm and adapt communication accordingly
Cultural competence requires recognizing that behaviors like eye contact avoidance may reflect cultural norms, not disengagement.