MSRA Professional Dilemmas 4

Question 1

You witness a senior colleague being rude and dismissive to a patient. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Raise your concern with the colleague privately at an appropriate time

Answer

Confront them loudly in front of the patient

Answer

Ignore it because they are senior

Answer

Tell the patient to make a formal complaint

Question 2

A patient who lacks capacity needs an urgent decision and no relatives are available. What should guide your action?

Accepted Answer

Act in the patient's best interests using available information

Answer

Delay until a relative can be found

Answer

Ask the patient to decide despite lacking capacity

Answer

Refuse to treat until consent is obtained

Question 3

You are asked by a friend, who is not your patient, to prescribe antibiotics for them informally. What is the best response?

Accepted Answer

Decline and advise them to see their own GP

Answer

Prescribe them as a favour

Answer

Prescribe a small amount only

Answer

Give them some from the ward stock

Question 4

You make a drug error that causes no harm to the patient. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Report it through the incident system and inform a senior

Answer

Say nothing as no harm occurred

Answer

Only tell a colleague informally

Answer

Delete the relevant entry from the chart

Question 5

A patient asks you whether a treatment error made by another doctor caused their complication. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Be honest, explain what you know, and escalate appropriately

Answer

Deny that any error occurred

Answer

Blame the patient's underlying condition

Answer

Refuse to discuss it at all

Question 6

You are repeatedly asked to stay late beyond your contracted hours, affecting your wellbeing. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Discuss the workload with your educational supervisor or rota coordinator

Answer

Quietly keep staying late indefinitely

Answer

Leave on time without informing anyone of unfinished work

Answer

Refuse all future shifts

Question 7

A colleague asks you to sign off a piece of their work that you have not actually reviewed. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Decline to sign until you have properly reviewed it

Answer

Sign it to be helpful

Answer

Sign it but note your reservations verbally

Answer

Ask someone else to sign instead