Professional Ethics and Standards Flashcards

A psychiatrist practises privately and treats a patient who is also a close personal friend. Which ethical risk is MOST significant?

Answer: Boundary violation and compromised objectivity in the therapeutic relationship

Treating a close personal friend creates dual-role conflicts that compromise clinical objectivity and constitute a significant boundary violation.

Which of the following MOST accurately describes the concept of 'least restrictive alternative' in UK mental health law?

Answer: Choosing the intervention that achieves the clinical aim with the least restriction on the patient's liberty

The least restrictive alternative principle requires clinicians to select the option that meets the therapeutic goal while maximally preserving patient freedom.

When conducting research involving psychiatric patients, which body provides the primary ethical oversight for clinical research in the UK?

Answer: NHS Health Research Authority Research Ethics Committees (RECs)

NHS Health Research Authority RECs provide ethical oversight for clinical research in the UK, ensuring participant protection and ethical conduct.

A patient on a community treatment order (CTO) refuses depot antipsychotic at a clinic appointment. Under the Mental Health Act, the responsible clinician may:

Answer: Recall the patient to hospital for assessment and, if necessary, treatment under the CTO

Recall to hospital is the lawful mechanism under a CTO when the patient refuses or conditions are not met, enabling assessment and treatment within the inpatient setting.

Which of the following describes 'defensive psychiatry' and its primary ethical concern?

Answer: Clinicians making decisions primarily to avoid litigation rather than in the patient's best clinical interests

Defensive psychiatry occurs when clinical decisions are driven by fear of litigation rather than patient welfare, compromising the quality and ethics of care.

A patient detained under the MHA asks their psychiatrist not to share information with their nearest relative. Under MHA Code of Practice guidance, the psychiatrist should:

Answer: Respect the patient's wishes where clinically and legally possible, limiting disclosure to the nearest relative

The MHA Code of Practice advises respecting patients' wishes about nearest relative disclosure where clinically appropriate, though nearest relatives retain some statutory rights.

The ethical principle of 'veracity' in psychiatric practice is BEST illustrated by:

Answer: Clinicians being honest with patients, even when disclosing uncertain prognoses or difficult diagnoses

Veracity as an ethical principle refers to the clinician's obligation to be truthful with patients, including when information may be distressing or uncertain.