MSRA MSRA Ethics and Law 2

Question 1

A patient discloses during consultation that they are HIV-positive but refuses to inform their regular sexual partner. What is the doctor's responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Counsel the patient, encourage disclosure, and consider informing the PHSA if the partner is at serious risk

Answer

Immediately disclose the diagnosis to the partner

Answer

Respect confidentiality absolutely and take no further action

Answer

Refuse to continue treating the patient

Question 2

A 17-year-old is brought in unconscious following a drug overdose. His parents demand full disclosure of his medical history and current treatment. What is the correct approach?

Accepted Answer

Treat the patient, and share only information necessary for immediate care, respecting prior expressed confidentiality preferences where known

Answer

Provide full disclosure to the parents as he is a minor

Answer

Refuse to speak to parents at all

Answer

Discharge to parental care without treatment

Question 3

A patient lacks mental capacity and has no advance directive. What framework governs treatment decisions in England and Wales?

Accepted Answer

The Mental Capacity Act 2005

Answer

The Mental Health Act 1983

Answer

Common law best interests standard only

Answer

The Human Rights Act 1998

Question 4

During a ward round, a consultant makes a clinical error and asks the junior doctor not to document it. What should the junior doctor do?

Accepted Answer

Document the clinical facts accurately and escalate the error via incident reporting

Answer

Comply with the consultant's request to avoid conflict

Answer

Document the error but do not tell the patient

Answer

Ask the patient if they want to know

Question 5

A pharmaceutical company offers a doctor a paid speaking engagement with flights and accommodation to promote their new drug. What should the doctor do?

Accepted Answer

Decline if the arrangement could reasonably be seen as influencing prescribing behaviour

Answer

Accept as it is a legitimate educational opportunity

Answer

Accept and declare the interest only if asked

Answer

Accept provided the drug is on formulary

Question 6

A patient is found to have capacity but requests a treatment that the doctor believes is not clinically indicated. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Explain the clinical rationale, explore the patient's concerns, and offer appropriate alternatives

Answer

Prescribe the treatment to maintain the therapeutic relationship

Answer

Refuse and discharge the patient

Answer

Refer to another doctor without explanation