HCC Professional Ethics & Standards 5

Question 1

A hospital client insists on a strategy the consultant believes creates significant patient safety risk. After advising against it and being overruled, the consultant should:

Accepted Answer

Document the objection and advice in writing, and consider withdrawing if the risk is severe

Answer

Implement the strategy enthusiastically to keep the relationship

Answer

Sabotage the implementation to protect patients

Answer

Anonymously leak the plan to local news media

Question 2

Which data handling practice best fulfills a consultant's ethical duty when storing client PHI on a laptop?

Accepted Answer

Encrypting the device, limiting access, and retaining data only as long as the engagement requires

Answer

Storing files unencrypted for faster access during meetings

Answer

Emailing PHI to a personal account as a backup

Answer

Keeping all client PHI indefinitely for future reference

Question 3

A consultant discovers that recommendations from a prior consultant were sound, but the client hopes the new report will discredit them for political reasons. The ethical consultant should:

Accepted Answer

Evaluate the prior work objectively and report honest conclusions even if they disappoint the client

Answer

Write a critical report to satisfy the client's political agenda

Answer

Refuse to review any prior consultant's work on principle

Answer

Copy the prior report and resubmit it under a new cover

Question 4

In which case may a healthcare consultant ethically use knowledge gained from a client engagement?

Accepted Answer

Applying generalized industry expertise and lessons learned without disclosing any client-specific confidential information

Answer

Repeating a client's confidential pricing data to its competitor

Answer

Publishing the client's internal financials in a case study without consent

Answer

Trading stock based on the client's nonpublic merger plans

Question 5

A consultant is asked to certify that a client's compliance program is effective, but the client blocked access to key documents during the review. The consultant should:

Accepted Answer

Decline to certify effectiveness or issue a qualified conclusion noting the scope limitation

Answer

Certify effectiveness anyway since most areas looked fine

Answer

Certify effectiveness in exchange for a bonus fee

Answer

Let the client draft the certification language themselves

Question 6

What is the main ethical reason consultants should keep detailed, accurate records of hours billed to healthcare clients?

Accepted Answer

Honest billing is an integrity obligation, and inaccurate records can constitute fraud

Answer

Detailed records let consultants pad invoices more convincingly

Answer

Records are needed only when a client threatens litigation

Answer

Timekeeping matters only for government clients

Question 7

A consultant completing an engagement should handle the client's confidential documents by:

Accepted Answer

Returning or securely destroying them per the engagement agreement and documenting the disposition

Answer

Keeping everything in a personal archive indefinitely

Answer

Donating old files to a business school as teaching materials

Answer

Discarding them in regular office trash