Medical Ethics & Patient Rights Flashcards

A patient refuses to have blood drawn for a court-ordered drug test. What is the specimen collector's appropriate response?

Answer: Document the refusal and notify the ordering authority

When a patient refuses a court-ordered test, the collector must document the refusal and report it to the appropriate authority rather than using force.

Which ethical principle requires a specimen collector to act in the best interest of the patient?

Answer: Beneficence

Beneficence means acting in the patient's best interest, while non-maleficence means avoiding harm.

A minor presents alone for a urine drug screen ordered by their employer. What should the collector do?

Answer: Refuse collection until a parent or guardian provides consent

Minors generally cannot provide legally valid consent; a parent or guardian must authorize non-emergency procedures.

A collector overhears a coworker sharing a patient's positive drug test result with another employee not involved in the patient's care. This is a violation of:

Answer: HIPAA Privacy Rule

Sharing protected health information with unauthorized individuals violates the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

What does the ethical principle of veracity require of a specimen collector?

Answer: Telling the truth to patients about procedures and findings

Veracity is the duty to be truthful and honest when communicating with patients.

A patient asks the collector to mark their specimen as someone else's to avoid a positive result. The collector should:

Answer: Decline and explain that doing so would be fraud

Falsifying specimen identification is fraud, and the collector must refuse and explain why.

Which patient right is specifically protected when a collector explains the purpose and procedure of specimen collection before beginning?

Answer: Right to informed consent

Explaining the procedure and its purpose before collection upholds the patient's right to informed consent.