Professionalism & Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real ECFMG practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professionalism & Ethics flashcards as text
A patient with limited English proficiency refuses a professional interpreter and asks her adult son to translate during a sensitive gynecologic exam. What is the most appropriate next step?
Answer: Use a professional interpreter after explaining the risks of using a family member
Physicians should explain confidentiality and accuracy risks of using family interpreters and offer professional services, while ultimately respecting a competent patient's informed choice.
During a residency program, a supervising attending asks a resident to document a procedure as 'performed by attending' when the resident actually performed it independently. The resident should:
Answer: Document accurately and report the discrepancy to the program director if pressured
Falsifying medical records is fraud; the resident must document accurately and escalate if pressured to commit dishonest documentation.
An IMG receives a gift of significant monetary value from a grateful patient's family after a successful surgery. According to ECFMG professional standards, what is the best response?
Answer: Decline the gift and explain the professional reasons for doing so
Accepting significant gifts can compromise objectivity and violate professional boundaries; declining with a kind explanation is the ethical standard.
A physician discovers that a colleague has been practicing while impaired by alcohol during overnight shifts. The physician's primary obligation is to:
Answer: Report concerns to the appropriate authority to protect patient safety
Protecting patients from an impaired colleague supersedes collegial loyalty; reporting to appropriate authorities is the professional duty.
A terminally ill patient who is a Jehovah's Witness and has decision-making capacity refuses a life-saving blood transfusion. The ethical principle that most directly supports honoring this refusal is:
Answer: Autonomy
Autonomy grants competent adult patients the right to refuse any treatment, including life-saving interventions, based on personal or religious beliefs.
An IMG applying for ECFMG certification discovers an error on a previously submitted application form. What should the applicant do?
Answer: Correct the error proactively by contacting ECFMG immediately
ECFMG requires honest and accurate documentation; proactively correcting errors demonstrates integrity and is required under its policies.
A medical student on clinical rotation witnesses an attending make a demeaning comment about a patient's weight in front of the care team. The most professional response is to:
Answer: Privately speak with the attending afterward and express concern about the comment
Addressing unprofessional behavior privately first is appropriate, constructive, and preserves the therapeutic environment for the patient.
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