Medical Ethics & Patient Rights Flashcards
7 cards from real CSC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medical Ethics & Patient Rights flashcards as text
A patient who recently underwent a mastectomy asks the collector not to use the arm on the affected side. The collector should:
Answer: Honor the request and use the opposite arm unless clinically contraindicated
Patients with lymph node removal risk lymphedema, and their request to avoid venipuncture on the affected arm should be honored as both an ethical and clinical matter.
When a patient asks what will happen to their leftover specimen after testing, the ethical response is to:
Answer: Explain the facility's specimen retention and disposal policy
Patients have a right to understand what happens to their biological samples, and the collector should explain the facility's documented policy.
Which scenario represents a conflict of interest for a specimen collector?
Answer: Processing a specimen from a close family member when other collectors are available
Collecting from a close family member creates a conflict of interest and potential bias; when alternatives exist, another collector should be used.
A patient discloses during collection that they are being abused at home. The collector's ethical and legal obligation is to:
Answer: Listen empathetically and refer the patient to appropriate resources or mandatory reporting channels
Disclosures of abuse may trigger mandatory reporting obligations, and collectors must connect the patient with appropriate resources while following facility protocols.
The ethical concept of 'do no harm' (non-maleficence) in specimen collection most directly applies to:
Answer: Using proper technique to minimize pain and risk of injury during venipuncture
Non-maleficence requires collectors to use correct technique to prevent unnecessary pain, nerve injury, or infection during the procedure.
A collector who refuses to perform a legal medical procedure on a patient due to personal moral objections should:
Answer: Explain the objection to the patient and arrange for another qualified collector to assist
Conscientious objection is recognized in healthcare, but the provider must ensure the patient's care continues by arranging a qualified substitute.
Which of the following represents the most serious ethical breach a specimen collector could commit?
Answer: Intentionally substituting a known-negative specimen to help a donor pass a drug test
Intentional specimen substitution is fraud, endangers workplace safety, and violates federal drug testing regulations — the most severe ethical and legal breach a collector can commit.