MOH Medical Ethics & Professionalism 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The four principles of biomedical ethics (Beauchamp and Childress) are:
- Justice, beneficence, fidelity, autonomy
- Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice (Correct answer)
- Veracity, fidelity, confidentiality, justice
- Beneficence, confidentiality, autonomy, honesty
Correct answer: Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice
The four principles of biomedical ethics are autonomy (respect for patient decision-making), beneficence (doing good), non-maleficence (avoiding harm), and justice (fair distribution of resources and treatment).
Question 2: A mentally competent adult patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion for religious reasons. The physician should:
- Proceed with transfusion regardless of refusal
- Respect the patient's refusal and document it (Correct answer)
- Seek a court order to override the refusal
- Transfer patient to another facility without consent
Correct answer: Respect the patient's refusal and document it
A competent adult has the right to refuse any medical treatment, including life-saving interventions; the physician must respect this decision, document the informed refusal, and ensure the patient understands the consequences.
Question 3: In UAE healthcare ethics, a physician who receives gifts from pharmaceutical companies must:
- Accept any gift under 500 AED without disclosure
- Disclose all gifts and avoid conflicts of interest (Correct answer)
- Accept gifts as industry standard practice
- Report the gift only if it exceeds 1,000 AED
Correct answer: Disclose all gifts and avoid conflicts of interest
UAE professional codes of conduct require healthcare professionals to disclose all gifts from pharmaceutical or device companies and avoid any arrangement that creates a conflict of interest affecting patient care.
Question 4: The principle of beneficence in medical ethics means:
- Do no harm to the patient
- Act in the patient's best interest and promote their well-being (Correct answer)
- Treat all patients fairly
- Respect patient choices
Correct answer: Act in the patient's best interest and promote their well-being
Beneficence is the ethical duty to act in the best interests of the patient and actively promote their well-being, going beyond merely avoiding harm.
Question 5: Which ethical principle is most relevant when allocating scarce medical resources during a pandemic?
- Autonomy
- Non-maleficence
- Justice (Correct answer)
- Beneficence
Correct answer: Justice
Justice is the ethical principle governing fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources; during scarcity (e.g., ICU beds, ventilators), justice frameworks guide allocation decisions.
Question 6: Disclosure of a terminal diagnosis to a patient is governed by the principle of:
- Non-maleficence only
- Paternalism
- Veracity (truth-telling) and respect for autonomy (Correct answer)
- Beneficence override
Correct answer: Veracity (truth-telling) and respect for autonomy
Truth-telling (veracity) and respect for patient autonomy require that patients be informed of their diagnosis, including terminal conditions, so they can make informed decisions about their remaining life and care.
MOH Medical Ethics & Professionalism 1
The four principles of biomedical ethics (Beauchamp and Childress) are: