CLT Medical Ethics & Patient Rights 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A laboratory technologist notices a systematic error that has been producing falsely elevated glucose results for two weeks. The ethical obligation is to:
- Correct the instrument and monitor future results silently
- Report the error to the laboratory director and affected clinicians immediately (Correct answer)
- Wait until the next quality control review to disclose
- Only notify patients who call to ask about their results
Correct answer: Report the error to the laboratory director and affected clinicians immediately
Honesty and patient safety require prompt disclosure of laboratory errors to supervisors and clinical staff so corrective actions and patient notifications can occur.
Question 2: Which document authorizes a designated individual to make healthcare decisions for an incapacitated patient?
- Living will
- Do-not-resuscitate order
- Durable power of attorney for healthcare (Correct answer)
- HIPAA authorization form
Correct answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare designates a healthcare proxy to make medical decisions when the patient cannot do so.
Question 3: In the context of laboratory ethics, 'justice' most directly requires that:
- All patients receive identical laboratory tests regardless of indication
- Laboratory resources and services are distributed fairly among patients (Correct answer)
- Errors are always prosecuted legally
- Patients are never charged for repeat testing due to laboratory error
Correct answer: Laboratory resources and services are distributed fairly among patients
The principle of justice in healthcare ethics concerns the fair and equitable distribution of benefits, risks, and resources among patients.
Question 4: A physician orders a test that the laboratory technologist believes is medically unnecessary. The best initial action is to:
- Refuse to perform the test
- Perform the test and document the concern through appropriate channels (Correct answer)
- Call the patient directly to discuss the order
- Report the physician to state licensing authorities
Correct answer: Perform the test and document the concern through appropriate channels
Laboratory professionals should perform ordered tests while using proper institutional channels to raise clinical or ethical concerns.
Question 5: Patient specimens labeled with only a medical record number (MRN) rather than a full name are acceptable under which condition?
- Never; full name is always required by CLIA
- When institutional policy and CLIA standards are met for two-patient identifiers (Correct answer)
- Only in emergency departments
- Only if the patient has given written consent for de-identification
Correct answer: When institutional policy and CLIA standards are met for two-patient identifiers
CLIA requires two patient identifiers on specimens; an MRN plus a second identifier such as date of birth satisfies this requirement per institutional policy.
Question 6: A laboratory technologist witnesses a coworker falsifying quality control records. The technologist's primary ethical and legal obligation is to:
- Ignore it since falsification is a common practice under pressure
- Report the behavior to a supervisor or compliance officer (Correct answer)
- Correct the records themselves without reporting
- Confront the coworker privately and take no further action
Correct answer: Report the behavior to a supervisor or compliance officer
Falsifying quality control records is both unethical and illegal under CLIA; reporting to a supervisor or compliance officer is the required response.
Question 7: Which statement best describes the ethical principle of nonmaleficence as applied in the clinical laboratory?
- Always performing every available test to maximize information
- Avoiding actions that cause unnecessary harm to patients (Correct answer)
- Ensuring equitable access to all laboratory services
- Respecting each patient's right to make their own decisions
Correct answer: Avoiding actions that cause unnecessary harm to patients
Nonmaleficence ('do no harm') obligates laboratory professionals to avoid procedures, errors, or disclosures that could injure or harm the patient.
CLT Medical Ethics & Patient Rights 3
A laboratory technologist notices a systematic error that has been producing falsely elevated glucose results for two weeks.
The ethical obligation is to: