ECC Medical Ethics & Patient Rights 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When documenting an equine chiropractic session, which information is ethically and professionally essential to include?
- Only the techniques used and the fee charged
- Date, findings, techniques applied, horse's response, and follow-up plan (Correct answer)
- Owner satisfaction rating and referral source
- Breed, color, and registration number of the horse only
Correct 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.
Question 2: A client insists on a chiropractic technique that the practitioner believes is contraindicated for the horse's current condition. What should the practitioner do?
- Perform the technique to maintain the client relationship
- Perform a modified version without informing the client
- Explain the contraindication, decline to perform it, and document the conversation (Correct answer)
- Refer the client elsewhere without explanation
Correct 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.
Question 3: How long are equine chiropractic practitioners in the US generally advised to retain patient records for ethical and legal protection?
- 1 year after last visit
- 3 years after last visit
- At least 7 years, or as required by state law (Correct answer)
- Indefinitely with no disposal ever permitted
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which action by an equine chiropractor would violate the ethical principle of non-maleficence?
- Declining to treat a horse outside their expertise
- Applying spinal manipulation to a horse with a known vertebral fracture (Correct answer)
- Recommending rest after an intensive chiropractic session
- Referring a horse to a veterinarian for diagnostic imaging
Correct 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.
Question 5: 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?
- Document it in the horse's medical record for future reference
- Share it with the referring vet to help coordinate affordable care
- Maintain strict confidentiality and use it only to inform care planning (Correct answer)
- Discuss it with office staff to arrange a payment plan
Correct 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.
Question 6: What is the primary ethical purpose of obtaining informed consent before performing equine chiropractic treatment?
- To protect the chiropractor from malpractice claims
- To document that the owner paid for services
- To ensure the owner understands risks, benefits, and alternatives before agreeing to treatment (Correct answer)
- To satisfy insurance company requirements for reimbursement
Correct 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.
Question 7: 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?
- Ignore it to avoid professional conflict
- Immediately report it anonymously on social media
- Address the concern directly with the colleague first, then escalate to a certifying body if unresolved (Correct answer)
- Document the incident and wait to see if harm results
Correct 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.
ECC Medical Ethics & Patient Rights 3
When documenting an equine chiropractic session, which information is ethically and professionally essential to include?