Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real AP 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 & Professional Standards flashcards as text
A minor patient (age 15) presents for acupuncture without a parent present. The practitioner should:
Answer: Verify state law regarding minor consent and obtain parental consent if required before proceeding
State laws vary on a minor's ability to consent to treatment; practitioners must know applicable statutes and document parental consent when required.
Which document legally authorizes an acupuncture physician to treat an incapacitated adult patient?
Answer: A valid durable power of attorney for healthcare or healthcare proxy designation
A durable power of attorney for healthcare or legally designated proxy grants authority to make medical decisions for an incapacitated patient.
An acupuncture physician discovers a billing error that resulted in overcharging a patient's insurance. The ethical obligation is to:
Answer: Correct the error, repay any overpayment, and document the correction
Billing integrity requires correcting errors proactively, repaying overpayments, and maintaining accurate records regardless of whether an audit is pending.
A patient states they want to use acupuncture instead of chemotherapy for a newly diagnosed cancer. The practitioner's ethical duty is to:
Answer: Respect autonomy while ensuring the patient has complete information about the risks of forgoing conventional treatment
Respecting patient autonomy is balanced with the duty to ensure fully informed decision-making, including disclosure of risks from declining evidence-based treatment.
Mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse by a licensed acupuncture physician is:
Answer: Required by law in all US states for mandated reporters including healthcare providers
All US states designate healthcare providers including licensed acupuncturists as mandated reporters, legally required to report reasonable suspicion of child abuse.
An acupuncture physician receives a gift from a pharmaceutical representative promoting herbal supplements. The most ethical course of action is to:
Answer: Decline the gift to avoid any conflict of interest that could influence clinical decision-making
Accepting gifts from industry representatives creates potential conflicts of interest that can compromise objective clinical decision-making and patient trust.
A patient requests a copy of their acupuncture treatment records. Under HIPAA, the practitioner must provide access:
Answer: Within 30 days of the request, with one 30-day extension if needed
HIPAA requires covered entities to provide patients access to their records within 30 days of a request, with one permissible 30-day extension.