HCC Professional Ethics & Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A contractor discovers that a subcontractor has falsified safety inspection records on a healthcare project. What is the contractor's ethical obligation?
- Ignore it if the work appears satisfactory
- Report the falsification to the owner and relevant authorities (Correct answer)
- Quietly correct the records without disclosing the incident
- Allow the subcontractor to self-correct before involving others
Correct answer: Report the falsification to the owner and relevant authorities
Falsified safety records on a healthcare facility are a serious ethical and legal violation that must be reported to protect patient safety and project integrity.
Question 2: Which principle of professional ethics requires healthcare construction professionals to place the public's welfare above personal or employer interests?
- Fidelity
- Beneficence
- Public obligation (Correct answer)
- Competence
Correct answer: Public obligation
The principle of public obligation mandates that professionals prioritize the health, safety, and welfare of the public over personal gain or employer directives.
Question 3: An HCC-certified professional is asked to sign off on a design that does not meet FGI Guidelines but the owner insists it is acceptable. What should the professional do?
- Sign off to maintain the client relationship
- Refuse to certify compliance and document the deviation in writing (Correct answer)
- Seek a second opinion before deciding
- Request a variance without notifying the AHJ
Correct answer: Refuse to certify compliance and document the deviation in writing
Certifying non-compliant work is an ethical violation; the professional must refuse and document the deficiency, potentially notifying the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Question 4: During a healthcare renovation, a construction manager realizes the infection control measures in place are inadequate. The project is behind schedule. What is the ethical course of action?
- Continue work to meet the schedule and address ICRA issues later
- Halt the work affecting infection control until proper measures are in place (Correct answer)
- Notify the owner but continue work pending their response
- Add extra cleaning at project end to compensate
Correct answer: Halt the work affecting infection control until proper measures are in place
Patient safety from infection risk must never be compromised for schedule; the ethical obligation requires stopping work until proper ICRA measures are implemented.
Question 5: What does the term 'conflict of interest' mean in healthcare construction ethics?
- A dispute between two contractors on the same project
- A situation where personal or financial interests could improperly influence professional judgment (Correct answer)
- Disagreement between the designer and contractor on specifications
- Competing bids from multiple subcontractors
Correct answer: A situation where personal or financial interests could improperly influence professional judgment
A conflict of interest occurs when a professional's personal, financial, or other interests could compromise or appear to compromise their objective professional judgment.
Question 6: A healthcare construction professional receives a gift from a vendor seeking contract work. According to ethical standards, the professional should:
- Accept the gift if its value is under $50
- Decline any gift that could influence or appear to influence professional decisions (Correct answer)
- Accept gifts only from pre-approved vendors
- Report the gift to HR and keep it if HR approves
Correct answer: Decline any gift that could influence or appear to influence professional decisions
Ethical standards generally prohibit accepting gifts from vendors or suppliers whose relationship could influence professional recommendations or decisions, regardless of value.
Question 7: Which document establishes the minimum standard of care for design and construction of healthcare facilities in the United States?
- OSHA 1926 Construction Standards
- FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals (Correct answer)
- AIA Code of Ethics
- NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
Correct answer: FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals
The FGI (Facility Guidelines Institute) Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals are the nationally recognized minimum standard of care for healthcare facility design and construction.
HCC Professional Ethics & Standards 2
A contractor discovers that a subcontractor has falsified safety inspection records on a healthcare project.
What is the contractor's ethical obligation?