FACRRM Professional Standards and Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A rural GP discovers a colleague is regularly performing procedures beyond their documented competencies without supervision. What is the most appropriate initial action?
- Report directly to AHPRA without speaking to the colleague
- Raise concerns with the colleague directly and document the conversation (Correct answer)
- Ignore the situation as it is not your responsibility
- Immediately suspend the colleague from practice
Correct answer: Raise concerns with the colleague directly and document the conversation
The first step is to address concerns directly with the colleague while documenting the interaction, before escalating to regulatory bodies.
Question 2: Under the FACRRM framework, which principle best describes the obligation to act in the patient's best interest even when it conflicts with institutional policies?
- Autonomy
- Justice
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Non-maleficence
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence refers to the duty to act in the patient's best interest, which may sometimes require advocacy against restrictive institutional policies.
Question 3: A patient in a remote community refuses a recommended blood transfusion on religious grounds while fully conscious and competent. What should the treating doctor do?
- Proceed with transfusion as it is life-saving
- Seek a court order to override the refusal
- Respect the refusal after ensuring informed consent and document thoroughly (Correct answer)
- Transfer the patient immediately to a metropolitan hospital
Correct answer: Respect the refusal after ensuring informed consent and document thoroughly
A competent adult has the right to refuse treatment; the physician must respect this decision after confirming understanding and documenting the process.
Question 4: Which of the following best characterises the concept of 'candour' as required by Australian medical professional standards?
- Sharing all patient records with family members on request
- Openly disclosing adverse events and near misses to affected patients (Correct answer)
- Providing free care to disadvantaged patients
- Maintaining confidentiality of all clinical communications
Correct answer: Openly disclosing adverse events and near misses to affected patients
Candour requires health professionals to be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong, including disclosing adverse events.
Question 5: In rural and remote medicine, a doctor is asked to provide a medical certificate for a patient they have not assessed. What is the correct response?
- Issue the certificate if the patient is well-known to the practice
- Decline as issuing certificates without assessment is unethical and potentially fraudulent (Correct answer)
- Issue the certificate to maintain the therapeutic relationship
- Delegate the task to the practice nurse
Correct answer: Decline as issuing certificates without assessment is unethical and potentially fraudulent
Issuing a medical certificate without proper assessment is a breach of professional standards and may constitute fraud.
Question 6: A FACRRM fellow working in a remote area suspects a patient may be experiencing domestic violence but the patient denies it. What is the most appropriate approach?
- Discharge the patient and document 'no concerns'
- Create a safe environment, offer support resources, and document concerns without coercing disclosure (Correct answer)
- Notify police immediately without patient consent
- Insist the patient confirm or deny the suspicion before providing treatment
Correct answer: Create a safe environment, offer support resources, and document concerns without coercing disclosure
Best practice involves creating safety, providing resources, and documenting without forcing disclosure, recognising the complexity of DV situations.
Question 7: What does the Medical Board of Australia's Good Medical Practice require regarding a doctor's personal health?
- Doctors must disclose all personal health conditions to their employer
- Doctors must not practise when their health impairs their ability to practise safely (Correct answer)
- Doctors are exempt from mandatory reporting for self-prescribing
- Doctors must inform all patients of any personal health conditions
Correct answer: Doctors must not practise when their health impairs their ability to practise safely
Good Medical Practice requires doctors to recognise when their own health may compromise patient safety and to seek appropriate care.
FACRRM Professional Standards and Ethics 2
A rural GP discovers a colleague is regularly performing procedures beyond their documented competencies without supervision.
What is the most appropriate initial action?