Medical Ethics & Patient Rights Flashcards
7 cards from real ECC 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
When documenting an equine chiropractic session, which information is ethically and professionally essential to include?
Answer: Date, findings, techniques applied, horse's response, and follow-up plan
Comprehensive records including findings, treatment, response, and plan protect the patient, practitioner, and support continuity of care.
A client insists on a chiropractic technique that the practitioner believes is contraindicated for the horse's current condition. What should the practitioner do?
Answer: Explain the contraindication, decline to perform it, and document the conversation
Non-maleficence requires refusing contraindicated procedures while transparently communicating the clinical reason to the owner.
How long are equine chiropractic practitioners in the US generally advised to retain patient records for ethical and legal protection?
Answer: At least 7 years, or as required by state law
Most professional and legal standards recommend retaining records for at least 7 years to support liability protection and continuity of care.
Which action by an equine chiropractor would violate the ethical principle of non-maleficence?
Answer: Applying spinal manipulation to a horse with a known vertebral fracture
Performing chiropractic adjustments on a fractured vertebra could cause catastrophic injury, directly violating the duty to do no harm.
A horse owner shares sensitive personal financial information while explaining why they cannot afford recommended follow-up treatments. What is the chiropractor's ethical obligation regarding this information?
Answer: Maintain strict confidentiality and use it only to inform care planning
Personal information shared by clients must be kept confidential and used only in the context for which it was disclosed.
What is the primary ethical purpose of obtaining informed consent before performing equine chiropractic treatment?
Answer: To ensure the owner understands risks, benefits, and alternatives before agreeing to treatment
Informed consent respects owner autonomy by ensuring they can make knowledgeable decisions about their horse's care.
An equine chiropractor witnesses a colleague performing a procedure on a horse in a way that appears unsafe and unethical. What is the most appropriate course of action?
Answer: Address the concern directly with the colleague first, then escalate to a certifying body if unresolved
Professional ethics require addressing unsafe practices through appropriate channels, beginning with direct communication before formal reporting.