CASPer: Situational Judgment Flashcards

You are a medical student on rotation and you overhear a senior resident making a dismissive comment about a patient's weight to a colleague. The patient is nearby and may have heard. What is your best course of action?

Answer: Privately speak with the resident afterward and also check on the patient to ensure they are okay

Addressing the resident privately preserves professionalism while also attending to the patient's emotional wellbeing.

A close friend confides that they have been submitting work assignments using AI-generated content in violation of their program's academic integrity policy. They ask you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

Answer: Express your concern honestly, explain the risks they face, and encourage them to self-report

Honest dialogue that encourages self-reporting respects both the friendship and the ethical obligation to uphold integrity standards.

During a group project, one team member consistently misses deadlines, causing others to redo their portions. The group must submit tomorrow. What should you do?

Answer: Have a direct but respectful conversation with the member to understand barriers and redistribute tasks if needed

Direct communication may uncover obstacles and allows fair redistribution of work before the deadline.

You are volunteering at a community clinic and notice that a staff member is consistently rude to patients who speak limited English. What is the most appropriate response?

Answer: Speak privately with the staff member about your observations and, if it continues, raise the issue with your supervisor

A private, respectful conversation gives the staff member a chance to change, and escalating if needed ensures patient protection.

You discover that a classmate has been sharing another student's personal health information with the rest of the cohort after learning it in confidence. What do you do?

Answer: Warn the classmate privately that sharing private health information is a serious breach of trust and confidentiality

Addressing the person responsible directly stops further harm and reinforces the norm of confidentiality without escalating unnecessarily.

You are assigned to work with a patient whose beliefs conflict strongly with a medical treatment you believe is in their best interest. The patient has decision-making capacity. How do you proceed?

Answer: Respect the patient's autonomy, ensure they have full information, document the discussion, and explore culturally sensitive alternatives if available

A competent patient's right to self-determination must be respected while ensuring they are fully informed of consequences.

You are in an interview and the panel asks you to describe a time you failed. You cannot think of a meaningful failure. What is your best approach?

Answer: Describe a minor setback, reflect genuinely on what you learned, and explain how it changed your approach

Honest reflection on a genuine, even modest, setback demonstrates self-awareness and a growth mindset valued by evaluators.