AMCA Professional Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A medical assistant discovers a coworker falsifying patient vital signs in the chart. The most appropriate first step is to:
- Ignore it if the patient appears fine
- Report the behavior to a supervisor or compliance officer (Correct answer)
- Confront the coworker publicly at the nurses' station
- Document the incident in the patient's chart yourself
Correct answer: Report the behavior to a supervisor or compliance officer
Falsifying medical records is fraud and must be reported through proper channels such as a supervisor or compliance officer.
Question 2: Which ethical principle requires that a healthcare provider act in the best interest of the patient?
- Autonomy
- Justice
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Non-maleficence
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence is the principle of acting in the patient's best interest and promoting their well-being.
Question 3: A patient asks a medical assistant not to share their HIV-positive status with their spouse. The medical assistant should:
- Inform the spouse to protect them from harm
- Respect confidentiality while consulting the supervising provider about reporting obligations (Correct answer)
- Document the request and take no further action
- Refuse to treat the patient until they inform their spouse
Correct answer: Respect confidentiality while consulting the supervising provider about reporting obligations
Confidentiality must be respected, but the provider should be consulted regarding any mandatory public health reporting requirements.
Question 4: The ethical concept of 'veracity' in healthcare means:
- Treating all patients fairly regardless of status
- Avoiding actions that could harm the patient
- Being truthful and honest with patients and colleagues (Correct answer)
- Respecting the patient's right to make decisions
Correct answer: Being truthful and honest with patients and colleagues
Veracity refers to the obligation to tell the truth and be honest in all professional interactions.
Question 5: When a patient declines a recommended treatment, the medical assistant should:
- Persuade the patient to comply by emphasizing worst-case outcomes
- Document the refusal and inform the supervising provider (Correct answer)
- Contact the patient's family to override the decision
- Administer the treatment anyway for the patient's benefit
Correct answer: Document the refusal and inform the supervising provider
A competent patient has the right to refuse treatment; refusal must be documented and the provider notified.
Question 6: Which action best demonstrates the ethical principle of justice in patient care?
- Providing longer appointments to patients who pay out-of-pocket
- Treating patients consistently regardless of race, gender, or insurance status (Correct answer)
- Prioritizing patients based on their likelihood of recovery
- Giving preferred scheduling to longtime patients
Correct answer: Treating patients consistently regardless of race, gender, or insurance status
Justice requires fair, equitable treatment for all patients without discrimination.
Question 7: A medical assistant receives a gift from a patient after a procedure. The most ethical response is to:
- Accept it privately to avoid embarrassing the patient
- Accept only if the value is under $25
- Politely decline and explain the facility's gift policy (Correct answer)
- Keep the gift but report it to a supervisor afterward
Correct answer: Politely decline and explain the facility's gift policy
Most healthcare facilities have policies restricting gift acceptance to prevent conflicts of interest; the ethical action is to politely decline.
AMCA Professional Ethics 2
A medical assistant discovers a coworker falsifying patient vital signs in the chart.
The most appropriate first step is to: