MACE Legal and Ethical Issues

Question 1

Which federal law protects the confidentiality of a patient's health information?

Accepted Answer

HIPAA

Answer

OSHA

Answer

ADA

Answer

COBRA

Question 2

A patient refuses to take their prescribed medication. What is the medication aide's appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Document the refusal and notify the supervising nurse

Answer

Crush the medication and mix it into food without telling the patient

Answer

Administer the medication anyway since it was ordered by the physician

Answer

Wait 30 minutes and attempt administration again without documenting

Question 3

What is the legal term for performing a healthcare procedure on a patient without their consent?

Accepted Answer

Assault and battery

Answer

Negligence

Answer

Malpractice

Answer

Breach of confidentiality

Question 4

Under HIPAA, which of the following is permitted without separate patient authorization?

Accepted Answer

Sharing information with other treating healthcare providers

Answer

Sharing information with the patient's employer

Answer

Discussing patient details in a public area of the facility

Answer

Releasing records to family members without the patient's consent

Question 5

A medication aide suspects that a resident is being physically abused. What is their legal obligation?

Accepted Answer

Report the suspicion to the appropriate authority immediately

Answer

Keep the information confidential unless they are certain abuse has occurred

Answer

Discuss it with coworkers to gather more evidence before acting

Answer

Privately document observations and monitor the situation over time

Question 6

Which document allows a competent adult to specify their healthcare wishes in the event they become unable to make decisions?

Accepted Answer

Advance directive

Answer

Informed consent form

Answer

HIPAA authorization

Answer

Do-not-resuscitate order

Question 7

Which action by a medication aide could constitute negligence?

Accepted Answer

Administering medication without verifying the patient's identity

Answer

Documenting medication immediately after administration

Answer

Reporting a medication error promptly to the nurse

Answer

Asking the patient about allergies before giving a new medication