MSRA Professional Dilemmas

Question 1

A colleague confides that they have been drinking alcohol before clinical shifts. What is the most appropriate initial action?

Accepted Answer

Express concern to the colleague and encourage them to seek help, while reporting to your clinical supervisor

Answer

Ignore it as it's their personal matter

Answer

Confront them publicly during a ward round

Answer

Report directly to the GMC without speaking to them first

Question 2

A patient's family member asks you not to tell the patient about their terminal diagnosis. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Explore the family's concerns but explain that the patient has the right to know their diagnosis if they wish

Answer

Agree to withhold the diagnosis as the family requested

Answer

Tell the patient immediately without further discussion

Answer

Refer the decision to the hospital ethics committee

Question 3

You notice a senior colleague making a prescribing error. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Raise the concern politely with the colleague directly and ensure the error is corrected

Answer

Ignore it because they are more senior

Answer

Correct the prescription yourself without telling anyone

Answer

File an anonymous complaint to the hospital board

Question 4

A patient refuses a blood transfusion on religious grounds despite being severely anemic. What is the correct approach?

Accepted Answer

Respect their decision after ensuring they have capacity and understand the risks, and explore alternative treatments

Answer

Administer the transfusion when they are asleep

Answer

Discharge the patient immediately

Answer

Ask their family to override their decision

Question 5

You are asked to see more patients than you feel is safe during an on-call shift. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Raise your concerns with the on-call senior and document your concerns about patient safety

Answer

Work through it without complaining

Answer

Leave the shift early to maintain your own safety

Answer

See only the patients you feel comfortable with and ignore the rest

Question 6

A pharmaceutical representative offers you an expensive gift in exchange for promoting their medication. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Decline the gift as it represents a conflict of interest that could influence prescribing decisions

Answer

Accept it and prescribe whatever you think is best anyway

Answer

Accept it but declare it to your department

Answer

Accept it as it's a common industry practice