MSRA Ethics and Law Flashcards

Which of the following best defines the legal standard of capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005?

Answer: The ability to understand, retain, weigh, and communicate a decision

The MCA 2005 defines capacity as the ability to understand relevant information, retain it, weigh it in the decision, and communicate a decision — irrespective of the wisdom of the choice.

A terminally ill patient with capacity asks the doctor to administer a lethal dose of medication. What is the legal position in England and Wales?

Answer: Illegal — active euthanasia is not lawful

Active euthanasia — intentionally administering a lethal agent — remains illegal in England and Wales regardless of patient consent or terminal prognosis.

A hospital audit reveals a systematic issue where a specific consent form omits a significant risk of paralysis for spinal surgery. What is the most appropriate response?

Answer: Perform a root cause analysis, update the consent form, and implement a system-wide change with staff education

Systemic consent failures require a systems-level response: root cause analysis, process redesign, and education to prevent recurrence and uphold the duty of candour.

A GP receives a Subject Access Request (SAR) from a patient requesting their full medical records. Under GDPR/UK GDPR, what is the maximum response time?

Answer: 30 days (one month)

Under UK GDPR, organisations must respond to a Subject Access Request within one calendar month (approximately 30 days) of receiving the request.

A doctor performs a procedure slightly beyond the scope of consent because they encounter an unexpected finding intraoperatively that is easily correctable. What ethical issue arises?

Answer: The extension must be justified by an imminent threat to the patient's life or health that could not reasonably be deferred

Extending a procedure beyond consent is only defensible when deferral would pose an immediate risk to life or health; convenience or efficiency does not justify exceeding the scope of consent.

Which of the following is a mandatory notification to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England?

Answer: Deaths of service users where abuse or neglect may have contributed

CQC regulations require mandatory notification of deaths where abuse or neglect may be a factor, along with other specified serious incidents, to enable regulatory oversight.