CCS Professional Ethics & Communication 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A cardiovascular specialist discovers a colleague has been documenting inaccurate stress test results to avoid reimbursement delays. What is the most appropriate first action?
- Ignore it since it does not directly affect patient care
- Report the concern to the compliance officer or department supervisor (Correct answer)
- Confront the colleague publicly during a staff meeting
- Alter the records back to accurate values without informing anyone
Correct answer: Report the concern to the compliance officer or department supervisor
Falsifying medical records is a serious ethical and legal violation that must be reported through proper institutional channels such as a compliance officer.
Question 2: When communicating echocardiogram results to a patient with limited health literacy, which strategy is most effective?
- Use standard medical terminology to maintain professionalism
- Provide a detailed written report and ask them to read it later
- Use plain language, visual aids, and teach-back techniques (Correct answer)
- Delegate all explanation to the referring physician only
Correct answer: Use plain language, visual aids, and teach-back techniques
Plain language combined with teach-back and visual aids improves comprehension and promotes informed decision-making for patients with limited health literacy.
Question 3: A patient refuses a recommended cardiac catheterization after being fully informed of risks and benefits. The cardiovascular specialist should:
- Proceed with the procedure because it is medically necessary
- Document the refusal and respect the patient's autonomous decision (Correct answer)
- Contact the patient's family to override the refusal
- Discharge the patient immediately from care
Correct answer: Document the refusal and respect the patient's autonomous decision
Informed refusal by a competent adult must be respected and documented; patient autonomy is a foundational ethical principle.
Question 4: Which of the following best defines a conflict of interest for a CCS professional?
- Disagreeing with a cardiologist about a treatment plan
- Receiving payment from a device company while recommending their products to patients (Correct answer)
- Performing a procedure outside normal business hours
- Consulting with a specialist from another institution
Correct answer: Receiving payment from a device company while recommending their products to patients
A conflict of interest arises when personal financial relationships could improperly influence clinical recommendations.
Question 5: During a cardiac stress test, a patient discloses they are experiencing domestic violence. The most ethical response is to:
- Focus solely on the cardiovascular assessment and document nothing
- Acknowledge the disclosure, provide safety resources, and document appropriately (Correct answer)
- Immediately call law enforcement without notifying the patient
- Tell the patient the issue is outside the scope of cardiovascular care
Correct answer: Acknowledge the disclosure, provide safety resources, and document appropriately
Acknowledging the disclosure with empathy, offering resources, and documenting appropriately reflects trauma-informed, patient-centered ethical practice.
Question 6: A CCS professional is asked by a supervisor to perform a cardiac procedure they are not trained or credentialed to perform. They should:
- Perform it under supervision to gain experience
- Refuse and explain the scope-of-practice and credentialing requirements (Correct answer)
- Perform it if no other staff are available
- Ask the patient whether they consent to an uncredentialed provider
Correct answer: Refuse and explain the scope-of-practice and credentialing requirements
Performing procedures outside one's credentialed scope of practice is unethical and exposes patients and the professional to serious harm and liability.
Question 7: Which ethical principle is most directly upheld when a cardiovascular specialist ensures a patient is free from pain and distress during a diagnostic procedure?
- Justice
- Autonomy
- Nonmaleficence (Correct answer)
- Veracity
Correct answer: Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence — the duty to 'do no harm' — encompasses minimizing patient pain, discomfort, and distress during procedures.
CCS Professional Ethics & Communication 2
A cardiovascular specialist discovers a colleague has been documenting inaccurate stress test results to avoid reimbursement delays.
What is the most appropriate first action?