FRACGP Professional Standards and Ethics 3

Question 1

A GP treating an adult patient with severe depression learns that the patient has written a will excluding their family. The family requests this information. What should the GP do?

Accepted Answer

Maintain confidentiality; the patient's legal decisions are not a clinical disclosure matter

Answer

A competent adult's legal decisions, including will-making, are confidential and not subject to third-party disclosure by the GP.

Question 2

Which principle underpins the concept of 'informed consent' as required by the RACGP?

Accepted Answer

Respect for patient autonomy, including disclosure of material risks

Answer

Informed consent is grounded in respect for autonomy, requiring disclosure of risks that a reasonable patient would consider material to their decision.

Question 3

A GP is approached by a pharmaceutical company offering a fully-funded overseas conference trip in exchange for prescribing their product. The most appropriate response is to:

Accepted Answer

Decline, as this represents an unacceptable conflict of interest

Answer

Accepting benefits contingent on prescribing behaviour constitutes an unacceptable conflict of interest under RACGP and Medicines Australia codes.

Question 4

When documenting a clinical encounter, a GP realises they made an error in a previous note. What is the correct approach?

Accepted Answer

Draw a single line through the error, add the correction with date and signature, leaving the original legible

Answer

Correct medical record amendment requires the original entry to remain legible with a dated, signed correction added alongside.

Question 5

A 15-year-old presents alone requesting contraception. The GP assesses that the patient understands the implications. Under the Gillick competence framework, the GP should:

Accepted Answer

Provide the service respecting the patient's confidentiality if competence is established

Answer

A Gillick-competent minor can consent to and receive confidential medical treatment including contraception without parental involvement.

(FRACGP) Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Practice Test

(FRACGP) Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Practice Test

FRACGP Professional Standards and Ethics 3