Medical Ethics & Patient Rights Flashcards
7 cards from real CHT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medical Ethics & Patient Rights flashcards as text
A hyperbaric patient discloses active suicidal ideation during a treatment session. What is the technician's immediate ethical and legal obligation?
Answer: Immediately notify the supervising clinician and follow safety protocols
Imminent risk of self-harm is a recognized exception to confidentiality; the technician must immediately alert clinical staff and follow safety protocols.
Which document specifically authorizes another person to make healthcare decisions on behalf of a patient who becomes incapacitated?
Answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare designates a surrogate decision-maker if the patient loses decision-making capacity.
During hyperbaric treatment, a technician notices signs of patient distress but the attending physician is unavailable. What is the ethically and professionally correct action?
Answer: Immediately terminate the session and seek emergency assistance
Patient safety takes precedence; the technician must abort the session and activate emergency protocols when clinical distress is observed.
A hyperbaric technician is asked by a pharmaceutical company representative to record which patients are receiving experimental treatments. What should the technician do?
Answer: Decline and report the request to the compliance officer
Sharing patient information with commercial entities without proper consent and IRB oversight violates HIPAA and research ethics; this must be reported.
The ethical concept of 'justice' in healthcare most directly requires that hyperbaric technicians:
Answer: Provide equal quality of care regardless of a patient's background or insurance status
Justice in healthcare ethics requires fair and equitable treatment for all patients without discrimination based on socioeconomic or demographic factors.
A patient's family member insists on knowing the patient's HBO treatment schedule and diagnosis. The patient has not signed a HIPAA authorization. What should the technician do?
Answer: Decline to share any protected health information without patient authorization
Without a signed HIPAA authorization or documented permission from the patient, protected health information cannot be disclosed to family members.
Which scenario represents a breach of professional boundaries by a hyperbaric technician?
Answer: Entering a personal financial arrangement with a current patient
Personal financial arrangements with current patients constitute a serious boundary violation that compromises professional integrity and the therapeutic relationship.