KAPS Professional Ethics and Standards 2

Question 1

A pharmacist discovers that a colleague has been routinely shortchanging controlled substance quantities to patients. What is the pharmacist's primary ethical obligation?

Accepted Answer

Report the colleague to the state board of pharmacy

Answer

Pharmacists have a professional and legal duty to report colleagues who engage in illegal or unethical conduct that endangers patients to the appropriate regulatory authority.

Question 2

Under HIPAA, which of the following constitutes a permissible disclosure of protected health information (PHI) without patient authorization?

Accepted Answer

Disclosing information to public health authorities to control disease

Answer

HIPAA permits disclosure of PHI to public health authorities for activities such as disease control without patient authorization under the public interest exception.

Question 3

Which ethical principle is most directly applied when a pharmacist ensures that a patient with limited English proficiency receives counseling in their native language?

Accepted Answer

Justice

Answer

Justice requires fair and equitable treatment of all patients; providing language-appropriate counseling ensures equal access to care regardless of linguistic background.

Question 4

A pharmacy intern witnesses the pharmacist-in-charge approve a prescription that appears to be forged. The intern's best course of action is to:

Accepted Answer

Refuse to dispense and document the incident for reporting to the board

Answer

Pharmacy interns must not dispense fraudulent prescriptions and are obligated to document and report unethical or illegal conduct by supervisors to the appropriate authority.

Question 5

The concept of 'conscientious objection' in pharmacy practice most appropriately requires that the pharmacist:

Accepted Answer

Ensure the patient can obtain the medication through timely referral to another provider

Answer

Conscientious objection is ethically acceptable only when the pharmacist ensures continuity of care by promptly referring the patient to an accessible alternative source.

(KAPS) Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences Practice Test

(KAPS) Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences Practice Test

KAPS Professional Ethics and Standards 2