Professional Ethics & Communication Flashcards
7 cards from real MLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Ethics & Communication flashcards as text
An MLS discovers a critical potassium value of 6.8 mEq/L on a stat specimen. The ordering physician is unavailable. What is the most appropriate action?
Answer: Contact the charge nurse or covering physician immediately
Critical values must be communicated immediately to a responsible caregiver; if the ordering provider is unavailable, the next appropriate clinical contact must be notified.
Which concept best describes the MLS's obligation to act in the patient's best interest above all other considerations?
Answer: Beneficence
Beneficence is the ethical principle requiring healthcare professionals to act in the best interest of the patient.
A laboratory report contains an error that was released to the patient's chart. The MLS who made the error should:
Answer: Notify the supervisor and follow the facility's error correction protocol
Errors must be corrected transparently following facility protocol, with supervisor notification and proper documentation.
Under HIPAA, a patient's laboratory results may be shared with:
Answer: Members of the patient's direct treatment team
HIPAA permits disclosure of protected health information to those directly involved in the patient's treatment without additional authorization.
When an MLS receives a verbal order for an add-on test, the best documentation practice is to:
Answer: Record the name of the person giving the verbal order, the test ordered, date, and time
Proper documentation of verbal orders protects both the patient and the laboratory by creating a traceable record.
An MLS is asked by a friend to look up a mutual acquaintance's recent lab results 'just out of curiosity.' The MLS should:
Answer: Decline; accessing records without a treatment purpose violates patient privacy
Accessing patient records without a legitimate clinical reason is a HIPAA violation regardless of personal relationships.
A laboratory policy conflicts with a physician's direct verbal instruction regarding specimen handling. The MLS should:
Answer: Follow established laboratory policy and communicate the policy to the physician
Laboratory policies are based on validated procedures and regulatory requirements; deviations require formal approval through proper channels.