FFICM Professional Ethics and Standards 2

Question 1

A patient in the ICU lacks capacity and has no advance directive. Their adult children disagree about withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. What is the most appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Convene a formal family meeting facilitated by the clinical team and consider ethics consultation

Answer

When families disagree, a structured family meeting with potential ethics consultation is the recommended approach before escalating to legal proceedings.

Question 2

Which ethical principle underpins the concept of informed consent in intensive care?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Autonomy — the right of competent individuals to make their own decisions — is the core ethical principle underlying informed consent.

Question 3

Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, what is the presumption regarding adult patients in the ICU?

Accepted Answer

Every adult is presumed to have capacity unless demonstrated otherwise

Answer

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 presumes all adults have capacity unless there is evidence to the contrary.

Question 4

A competent patient refuses a blood transfusion on religious grounds despite a life-threatening haemorrhage. What should the intensivist do?

Accepted Answer

Accept the refusal and manage without blood products

Answer

A competent adult's informed refusal of treatment must be respected regardless of the clinician's view of the decision's wisdom.

Question 5

Which document most clearly represents a patient's prospective autonomous wishes about future critical care treatment?

Accepted Answer

An advance decision to refuse treatment (ADRT)

Answer

An ADRT is a legally binding document in which a competent adult specifies treatments they wish to refuse if they later lose capacity.

(FFICM) Final Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine Practice Test

(FFICM) Final Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine Practice Test

FFICM Professional Ethics and Standards 2