CPCA Ethics & Confidentiality in Care Services 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client in your care posts on social media tagging you in a post about their health. What is your best course of action?
- Like and share the post to show support for the client
- Discuss the privacy implications with the client and notify your supervisor (Correct answer)
- Ignore the post since the client made it voluntarily
- Comment on the post to clarify details about their care
Correct answer: Discuss the privacy implications with the client and notify your supervisor
Social media posts involving clients and their health create confidentiality risks; the aide should address this with the client and escalate to the supervisor.
Question 2: What does 'veracity' mean as an ethical principle in personal care?
- Protecting the client from all risks of harm
- Being honest and truthful with clients about their care (Correct answer)
- Providing equal care to all clients regardless of condition
- Respecting the client's right to make their own decisions
Correct answer: Being honest and truthful with clients about their care
Veracity means telling the truth; in care settings, it requires being honest with clients about their condition, care plans, and any changes that affect them.
Question 3: A client refuses to take their prescribed medication. What should a personal care aide do?
- Mix the medication into their food without telling them
- Respect the refusal, document it, and notify your supervisor immediately (Correct answer)
- Call the pharmacy to request a different medication
- Convince the client to take it by telling them it is candy
Correct answer: Respect the refusal, document it, and notify your supervisor immediately
Administering medication without consent is assault; the aide must document the refusal and report it to the supervisor so the care team can address it appropriately.
Question 4: Which statement about workplace gossip best reflects ethical conduct for a personal care aide?
- Gossip is acceptable as long as clients' real names are not used
- Discussing clients' situations informally helps the care team stay connected
- Sharing client information with coworkers outside of care-related discussions is a confidentiality violation (Correct answer)
- It is fine to discuss clients in break rooms if other staff are present
Correct answer: Sharing client information with coworkers outside of care-related discussions is a confidentiality violation
Sharing client information outside of formal, care-related communication channels—even with other staff—violates confidentiality obligations.
Question 5: A client asks you to lie to their family about how often you visit. What should you do?
- Agree since honoring the client's autonomy is the top priority
- Explain that you cannot be dishonest and suggest discussing the concern with your supervisor (Correct answer)
- Lie to keep the client happy and avoid conflict with the family
- Report the client's request to the family immediately
Correct answer: Explain that you cannot be dishonest and suggest discussing the concern with your supervisor
Veracity and professional integrity require honesty; aides cannot participate in deception and should help redirect the concern through appropriate channels.
Question 6: Which action best protects a client's confidentiality when leaving a shift report for the incoming aide?
- Leave the written report on the kitchen table so it is easy to find
- Hand the report directly to the incoming aide or place it in a secure, designated location (Correct answer)
- Text the report to the incoming aide's personal phone number
- Read the report aloud in the front entrance so the aide hears it on arrival
Correct answer: Hand the report directly to the incoming aide or place it in a secure, designated location
Care documentation must be transferred securely to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing private health information.
Question 7: If a personal care aide witnesses a coworker stealing from a client, what is the ethical and legal obligation?
- Talk to the coworker privately and give them a chance to return the item
- Ignore it to avoid workplace conflict
- Report the incident to a supervisor immediately as potential financial abuse (Correct answer)
- Wait for the client to report it themselves before getting involved
Correct answer: Report the incident to a supervisor immediately as potential financial abuse
Theft from a client constitutes financial abuse and must be reported immediately to a supervisor, as aides are mandated reporters of all forms of client abuse.
CPCA Ethics & Confidentiality in Care Services 5
A client in your care posts on social media tagging you in a post about their health.
What is your best course of action?