AMCA Professional Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A medical assistant overhears a physician making a derogatory comment about a patient's lifestyle. The assistant should:
- Join the conversation if they agree with the physician
- Ignore it since the patient didn't hear it
- Address the concern privately with the physician or report it per facility policy (Correct answer)
- Repeat the comment to the patient so they are aware
Correct 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.
Question 2: Informed consent is considered ethically valid only when the patient:
- Signs the form without asking questions
- Has received information, understands it, and voluntarily agrees (Correct answer)
- Is accompanied by a family member
- Agrees within 24 hours of the scheduled procedure
Correct answer: Has received information, understands it, and voluntarily agrees
Valid informed consent requires disclosure of information, patient comprehension, and voluntary agreement free from coercion.
Question 3: Which scenario represents a breach of patient confidentiality?
- Sharing records with a consulting specialist involved in care
- Discussing a patient's diagnosis loudly in a crowded waiting room (Correct answer)
- Releasing records in response to a valid court order
- Providing information to a patient's authorized insurance company
Correct 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.
Question 4: The term 'scope of practice' in the context of professional ethics refers to:
- The geographic area where a provider is licensed
- The range of duties a medical assistant is legally and professionally authorized to perform (Correct answer)
- The number of patients a provider can see per day
- The types of insurance a facility is authorized to bill
Correct 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.
Question 5: A patient requests access to their own medical records. Under HIPAA, the medical assistant should:
- Deny access until the treating physician approves
- Provide access promptly, typically within 30 days of the request (Correct answer)
- Require the patient to obtain a subpoena
- Refer the patient to the billing department
Correct 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.
Question 6: An ethical obligation to 'do no harm' is captured by which principle?
- Autonomy
- Fidelity
- Non-maleficence (Correct answer)
- Beneficence
Correct answer: Non-maleficence
Non-maleficence is the principle that healthcare providers must avoid causing unnecessary harm to patients.
Question 7: When a patient from a different cultural background refuses eye contact during the consultation, the medical assistant should:
- Insist on eye contact as it shows trust
- Document the behavior as a sign of non-compliance
- Recognize this as a possible cultural norm and adapt communication accordingly (Correct answer)
- Refer the patient to a mental health professional
Correct 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.
AMCA Professional Ethics 3
A medical assistant overhears a physician making a derogatory comment about a patient's lifestyle.
The assistant should: