DO Bioethics and Medical Law

Question 1

Which ethical principle requires physicians to act in the best interest of the patient?

Accepted Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Beneficence obligates physicians to take positive actions that promote the health and well-being of their patients.

Question 2

A competent adult patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion for religious reasons. The physician should:

Accepted Answer

Respect the refusal and provide alternative care

Answer

A competent adult's right to refuse treatment, even life-saving treatment, is protected by the ethical principle of autonomy and upheld by US law.

Question 3

Informed consent requires the physician to disclose which of the following elements?

Accepted Answer

Diagnosis, treatment options, risks, benefits, and alternatives

Answer

Valid informed consent requires disclosure of the diagnosis, proposed treatment, material risks and benefits, alternatives, and consequences of refusal.

Question 4

Under HIPAA, protected health information (PHI) may be disclosed without patient authorization for which purpose?

Accepted Answer

Public health reporting of communicable diseases

Answer

HIPAA permits disclosure of PHI without authorization for public health activities such as reporting communicable diseases to state health departments.

Question 5

A physician discovers that a colleague is impaired by substance use and posing a risk to patients. The physician's ethical obligation is to:

Accepted Answer

Report the colleague to the appropriate authority or licensing board

Answer

Physicians have a professional duty to protect patients from harm, which requires reporting an impaired colleague to hospital administration or the state medical board.

DO - Doctor of Osteopathy Practice Test

DO - Doctor of Osteopathy Practice Test

DO Bioethics and Medical Law