Medical Ethics and Law Flashcards

In most U.S. states, which minor may legally consent to their own medical testing without parental involvement?

Answer: An emancipated minor

Emancipated minors are legally treated as adults and may consent to their own care.

Which federal law requires user facilities to report medical device incidents that caused or contributed to a patient's death to the FDA?

Answer: Safe Medical Devices Act

The Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 mandates reporting of device-related deaths and serious injuries.

A technologist reports a critical potassium value but does not document whom they notified. The main risk is:

Answer: Lack of proof the duty to communicate was fulfilled

Documentation of who received a critical value, when, and read-back confirms the reporting duty was met.

Which statement best defines a statute of limitations in malpractice law?

Answer: The time period within which a lawsuit must be filed

A statute of limitations sets the deadline for filing a legal action, which varies by state.

Which federal law generally prohibits a physician from referring Medicare patients to a lab in which the physician has a financial interest?

Answer: Stark Law

The Stark Law bans physician self-referrals for designated health services, including clinical laboratory services.

A technologist discovers a coworker repeatedly reporting QC results that were never run. The most appropriate ethical action is to:

Answer: Report it through the proper supervisory or compliance chain

Professional codes of ethics require reporting dishonest or unsafe practice through appropriate channels.

Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, employers must offer the hepatitis B vaccine to at-risk employees:

Answer: At no cost to the employee within 10 working days of assignment

OSHA requires employers to offer the HBV vaccine free within 10 working days of initial assignment to exposure-risk duties.