COST Medical Ethics and Law 5

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

A parent or legal guardian

Answer

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

Question 2

An emancipated minor is one who:

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Scope of practice

Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Nonmaleficence

Answer

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

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Report it through the chain of command per facility policy

Answer

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

COST - Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Technologist Practice Test