Ethics and Legal Duties Flashcards
7 cards from real MCCQE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics and Legal Duties flashcards as text
A patient with terminal cancer has a valid advance directive refusing resuscitation. During a hospital admission for pneumonia, the patient becomes unconscious. Family members demand full resuscitation. What should the physician do?
Answer: Honor the advance directive and explain its legal status to the family
A valid advance directive reflects the patient's autonomous wishes and is legally binding; family preferences do not override it.
Which of the following best describes the principle of non-maleficence in clinical practice?
Answer: Avoiding actions that cause unnecessary harm
Non-maleficence requires physicians to avoid causing unnecessary harm, including through negligent acts or omissions.
A physician is asked to complete a disability form for a patient they have not examined. What is the ethical concern?
Answer: Fraudulent certification without adequate assessment
Signing medical-legal documents without an adequate examination constitutes fraud and violates professional integrity.
A patient requests that the physician withhold a cancer diagnosis from them and share all information only with their adult children. How should the physician respond?
Answer: Explore the patient's reasons and negotiate an acceptable disclosure plan respecting autonomy
Physicians should explore cultural or personal reasons behind the request and find a plan that respects the patient's own autonomous choice about receiving information.
Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which section most directly protects a patient's right to make medical decisions about their own body?
Answer: Section 7 — Life, liberty, and security of the person
Section 7 protects security of the person, which includes the right to make decisions about one's own bodily integrity.
A physician has a personal moral objection to prescribing medical assistance in dying (MAID). What is their legal obligation in Canada?
Answer: They must provide an effective referral to a willing provider
Under Bill C-14 and professional guidelines, conscientious objectors must provide timely and effective referrals so patients can access MAID.
A research participant enrolled in a clinical trial develops an unexpected serious adverse event. What is the researcher's immediate obligation?
Answer: Immediately report the event to the Research Ethics Board and consider stopping the trial
Serious adverse events must be promptly reported to the REB; participant safety takes precedence over data integrity.