IHSA Ethics & Professional Standards 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary ethical principle that guides IHSA practitioners to 'do no harm'?
- Nonmaleficence (Correct answer)
- Beneficence
- Autonomy
- Justice
Correct answer: Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence (from Latin 'primum non nocere') is the fundamental ethical principle obligating healthcare professionals to avoid causing harm to patients through their actions or inactions.
Question 2: In IHSA practice, what does patient autonomy mean?
- The patient's right to make informed decisions about their own care (Correct answer)
- The provider's authority to determine treatment
- The hospital's right to set policies
- The insurance company's decision on coverage
Correct answer: The patient's right to make informed decisions about their own care
Patient autonomy recognizes each individual's right to make informed, voluntary decisions about their healthcare, including the right to accept, refuse, or withdraw from treatment.
Question 3: What ethical obligation does a IHSA professional have regarding patient confidentiality?
- Protect all patient health information and share only with authorized individuals involved in care (Correct answer)
- Share information with anyone who asks
- Post updates on social media for family
- Discuss cases openly in public areas
Correct answer: Protect all patient health information and share only with authorized individuals involved in care
Healthcare professionals must protect patient health information under HIPAA regulations and ethical standards, sharing only with those directly involved in the patient's care or with the patient's explicit consent.
Question 4: When a IHSA practitioner faces a conflict between beneficence and patient autonomy, what is the correct approach?
- Respect the patient's informed decision even if it differs from the recommended treatment (Correct answer)
- Override the patient's wishes for their own good
- Seek a court order to proceed
- Ignore the conflict and document nothing
Correct answer: Respect the patient's informed decision even if it differs from the recommended treatment
When a competent, informed patient makes a decision that conflicts with what the practitioner believes is best, patient autonomy generally takes precedence. The provider should ensure the patient understands the implications and document the discussion.
Question 5: What is the IHSA professional's duty when they witness a colleague practicing unsafely?
- Report the concern through proper institutional channels to protect patients (Correct answer)
- Ignore it to avoid conflict
- Confront them publicly
- Discuss it only with friends
Correct answer: Report the concern through proper institutional channels to protect patients
Healthcare professionals have an ethical and often legal obligation to report unsafe practices through proper channels (supervisor, risk management, licensing board) to protect patients from potential harm.
Question 6: In IHSA practice, what does the principle of justice require?
- Fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources regardless of patient demographics (Correct answer)
- Treating wealthy patients first
- Providing care only to insured individuals
- Prioritizing younger patients over older ones
Correct answer: Fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources regardless of patient demographics
The principle of justice requires that healthcare resources be distributed fairly and equitably, without discrimination based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, or other demographic factors.
IHSA Ethics & Professional Standards 1
What is the primary ethical principle that guides IHSA practitioners to 'do no harm'?