GAMSAT Professional Ethics and Standards 2

Question 1

A patient with terminal cancer asks their physician not to disclose the diagnosis to family members. The physician believes the family needs to know to arrange end-of-life care. What is the ethically correct approach?

Accepted Answer

Honor the patient's request and maintain confidentiality

Answer

Patient autonomy and confidentiality require the physician to respect the patient's explicit directive not to disclose, unless disclosure is legally mandated.

Question 2

In research ethics, what is the primary purpose of a Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB)?

Accepted Answer

To independently review accumulating trial data and recommend stopping if harm or clear benefit emerges

Answer

A DSMB monitors ongoing trial data to protect participant safety and trial integrity by recommending early termination if warranted.

Question 3

A medical student witnesses a resident falsifying a patient's medication records to cover an error. The student's primary ethical obligation is to:

Accepted Answer

Report the falsification through appropriate institutional channels

Answer

Patient safety and professional integrity require reporting falsified records through formal channels regardless of hierarchy.

Question 4

The principle of 'double effect' in medical ethics justifies which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Administering a drug that relieves pain but may hasten death, when palliation is the intent

Answer

Double effect permits an action with a foreseeable harmful side effect when the primary intent is beneficial and the harm is not the means to the good.

Question 5

A pharmaceutical company funds a researcher's study and offers authorship on the resulting paper. The researcher had minimal involvement. Publishing under these conditions constitutes:

Accepted Answer

Ghost authorship, a form of research misconduct

Answer

Ghost authorship involves a contributor being unlisted or a non-contributor being listed, both of which misrepresent accountability and constitute research misconduct.

(GAMSAT) Graduate Medical School Admissions Test Practice Test

(GAMSAT) Graduate Medical School Admissions Test Practice Test

GAMSAT Professional Ethics and Standards 2