CTC Medical Ethics & Patient Rights 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A telehealth patient in crisis refuses to disclose their location. Under the duty-to-warn principle, the coordinator should FIRST:
- Terminate the session immediately
- Attempt to obtain location information using motivational dialogue while escalating internally (Correct answer)
- Call 911 using the patient's registered address on file
- Document the refusal and wait for the patient to comply
Correct answer: Attempt to obtain location information using motivational dialogue while escalating internally
The coordinator should engage the patient to voluntarily share location while simultaneously alerting clinical staff, balancing therapeutic alliance with safety obligations.
Question 2: Which ethical principle is MOST directly violated when a telehealth provider shares session recordings with a third-party research firm without patient consent?
- Beneficence
- Non-maleficence
- Autonomy (Correct answer)
- Justice
Correct answer: Autonomy
Autonomy is violated because the patient's right to control their own health information and consent to its use is disregarded.
Question 3: A telehealth coordinator learns that a clinician is conducting sessions from a noisy, non-private coffee shop. The BEST ethical response is to:
- Report it directly to state licensing board
- Advise the clinician to use headphones only
- Flag the issue to the compliance officer and document the concern (Correct answer)
- Ignore it if the clinician is otherwise competent
Correct answer: Flag the issue to the compliance officer and document the concern
Reporting to the compliance officer ensures proper investigation while maintaining documentation, following the appropriate internal escalation pathway.
Question 4: Under the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA), telehealth providers must:
- Require all patients to complete advance directives before service
- Inform adult patients of their right to make healthcare decisions including advance directives (Correct answer)
- File advance directives with state health departments
- Refuse service to patients without documented advance directives
Correct answer: Inform adult patients of their right to make healthcare decisions including advance directives
The PSDA requires healthcare providers to inform patients of their right to make healthcare decisions and inquire about advance directive documentation.
Question 5: A minor patient uses a parent's telehealth account without parental knowledge to seek mental health services. Ethically, the coordinator should:
- Deny service because the account is not in the minor's name
- Notify the parent immediately about the session
- Evaluate minor consent laws in the patient's state and consult clinical staff (Correct answer)
- Proceed with the session as normal since care is being sought
Correct answer: Evaluate minor consent laws in the patient's state and consult clinical staff
Many states allow minors to independently consent to mental health services; state law must be verified before taking action that could breach confidentiality.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes the ethical concept of veracity in telehealth practice?
- Ensuring equal access to telehealth services across populations
- The obligation to tell the truth and not deceive patients (Correct answer)
- Protecting patient information from unauthorized disclosure
- Balancing patient benefits against potential harms
Correct answer: The obligation to tell the truth and not deceive patients
Veracity is the ethical duty of truthfulness, requiring providers to give patients accurate, honest information about their care.
Question 7: A telehealth patient signs a general consent form but later objects to being treated by a resident physician during a virtual visit. The patient's right to:
- Be denied care for revoking consent
- Know the qualifications of all providers involved in their care is protected (Correct answer)
- Sue the provider for breach of contract applies
- Consent only applies before service initiation
Correct answer: Know the qualifications of all providers involved in their care is protected
Patients retain the right to know who is providing their care and may withdraw consent for specific providers, even after signing a general consent form.
CTC Medical Ethics & Patient Rights 2
A telehealth patient in crisis refuses to disclose their location.
Under the duty-to-warn principle, the coordinator should FIRST: