Medical Ethics and Law Flashcards

Who may generally give consent for a 15-year-old's elective ptosis repair in the U.S.?

Answer: A parent or legal guardian

Minors generally cannot consent to elective procedures, so a parent or legal guardian must consent unless the minor is emancipated.

An emancipated minor is one who:

Answer: Is legally recognized as independent, such as through marriage, military service, or a court order

Emancipated minors are legally independent of their parents and may consent to their own care.

Performing tasks outside one's legally permitted role, such as a technologist independently injecting retrobulbar anesthesia, violates:

Answer: Scope of practice

Scope of practice defines the duties a professional is legally and institutionally allowed to perform.

Which ethical principle means 'first, do no harm'?

Answer: Nonmaleficence

Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid causing harm to the patient.

A technologist notices a surgeon appears intoxicated before a case. The most appropriate ethical action is to:

Answer: Report it through the chain of command per facility policy

Patient safety requires reporting a suspected impaired provider through proper channels.

A competent patient refuses surgery against medical advice. The staff should:

Answer: Respect the refusal, have the surgeon document it, and obtain a signed AMA/refusal form if possible

Competent adults may refuse care, and the refusal should be documented to protect the patient and the facility.

Keeping a patient from leaving the facility against their will without legal justification is:

Answer: False imprisonment

False imprisonment is unlawful restraint or confinement of a person, including unjustified physical or chemical restraint.