Professional Standards and Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real FRACGP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Standards and Ethics flashcards as text
A GP is contacted by a journalist who knows a famous patient attended the practice. The journalist asks to confirm the attendance. The GP should:
Answer: Refuse to confirm or deny any information about any patient
Even confirming a patient's attendance constitutes a disclosure of health information and breaches confidentiality.
A GP in private practice wishes to use de-identified patient data for a research study. What is the minimum ethical requirement?
Answer: Ethics committee approval and compliance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research
Research involving patient data, even de-identified, requires ethics committee review under the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.
A patient with terminal cancer has a valid Advance Care Directive refusing CPR. They suffer a cardiac arrest in your clinic. The correct action is:
Answer: Respect the directive and do not commence CPR
A valid Advance Care Directive must be respected; commencing CPR against a clearly documented refusal violates patient autonomy and the law.
Which of the following best describes the GP's duty of candour?
Answer: The proactive duty to inform patients when something has gone wrong in their care, even if they have not asked
The duty of candour requires GPs to proactively disclose errors or adverse events to patients, not merely respond to questions.
A GP has a financial interest in a pathology company to which they routinely refer patients. Under RACGP and legislative requirements, the GP must:
Answer: Disclose the financial interest to patients and ensure referrals are made on clinical grounds alone
The Pathology Legislation Amendment Act requires disclosure of financial interests and mandates that referrals are based solely on clinical need.
A GP is considering ending the therapeutic relationship with a patient who is persistently abusive. What conditions must be met before doing so?
Answer: Adequate notice must be given, continuity of care arranged, and the patient must not be in a critical phase of treatment
GPs may end therapeutic relationships but must provide reasonable notice, ensure continuity of care, and not abandon patients during acute illness.
A GP disagrees with a patient's decision to refuse a recommended blood transfusion on religious grounds. The patient is an adult with full capacity. The GP should:
Answer: Respect the refusal, document it thoroughly, and continue to provide all other appropriate care
A capacitous adult's right to refuse treatment, including life-saving treatment, is legally and ethically absolute and must be respected.