EEG Patient Safety and Ethics 4

Question 1

A patient with a known latex allergy is scheduled for a routine EEG. Which action is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Use latex-free electrodes and collodion, and notify the entire team of the allergy

Answer

Latex-free supplies must be used and all staff alerted, as some electrode caps, adhesives, and tubing may contain latex.

Question 2

During an ambulatory EEG, a patient calls to report they removed the electrodes themselves because of discomfort. What is the technologist's primary ethical obligation?

Accepted Answer

Respect patient autonomy, document the removal, and notify the ordering physician

Answer

Patients have the right to discontinue testing; the technologist must respect autonomy, document thoroughly, and inform the physician.

Question 3

A technologist notices a patient's oxygen saturation dropping to 88% during a sleep-deprived EEG. What is the correct response?

Accepted Answer

Pause the recording, stimulate the patient, apply supplemental oxygen if available, and notify the supervising physician

Answer

Desaturation below 90% is a clinical emergency requiring immediate intervention and physician notification, even if it interrupts the study.

Question 4

Which principle of biomedical ethics requires the EEG technologist to provide adequate information before obtaining consent for photic stimulation?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Autonomy requires that patients receive sufficient information to make an informed decision about procedures such as photic stimulation.

Question 5

An EEG technologist discovers that a colleague has been omitting seizure events from written reports to speed up throughput. What is the most appropriate course of action?

Accepted Answer

Report the concern through the facility's established chain of command or compliance channel

Answer

Omitting clinical data is an ethical and potentially legal violation requiring formal reporting through proper institutional channels.

EEG - Electroencephalography Practice Test

EEG - Electroencephalography Practice Test

EEG Patient Safety and Ethics 4