MSRA Professional Standards and Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with capacity refuses a blood transfusion on religious grounds. They are bleeding heavily post-surgery. What is the most appropriate action?
- Respect the refusal and manage without transfusion (Correct answer)
- Transfuse because saving life overrides religious belief
- Seek a court order to override the decision
- Wait until the patient loses consciousness then transfuse
Correct answer: Respect the refusal and manage without transfusion
A competent adult's refusal of treatment must be respected even if the decision may result in their death.
Question 2: You discover a colleague has been falsifying patient documentation. What is your first step?
- Raise concerns with your supervisor or designated lead (Correct answer)
- Confront the colleague directly and demand they stop
- Report immediately to the GMC without telling anyone else
- Wait to see if the behavior continues before acting
Correct answer: Raise concerns with your supervisor or designated lead
Concerns about patient safety from a colleague's misconduct should first be raised through appropriate internal channels such as a supervisor or clinical lead.
Question 3: A 15-year-old presents requesting contraception and asks you not to inform her parents. She demonstrates clear understanding of her choices. What should you do?
- Provide contraception confidentially if she is Gillick competent (Correct answer)
- Refuse and insist parental consent is obtained first
- Provide contraception but notify her parents anyway
- Defer the decision to a senior colleague
Correct answer: Provide contraception confidentially if she is Gillick competent
A young person who is Gillick competent can consent to contraceptive advice and treatment without parental knowledge.
Question 4: Which best describes the principle of non-maleficence in clinical practice?
- Avoiding actions that cause unnecessary harm to the patient (Correct answer)
- Ensuring patients receive the maximum possible benefit
- Treating all patients fairly regardless of background
- Respecting the patient's right to make decisions
Correct answer: Avoiding actions that cause unnecessary harm to the patient
Non-maleficence requires clinicians to avoid causing unnecessary harm, forming one of the four pillars of medical ethics.
Question 5: A consultant asks you to sign off on a procedure you did not witness and did not perform. What should you do?
- Decline to sign as it would be dishonest documentation (Correct answer)
- Sign because the consultant has authority over you
- Sign but add a note that you were not present
- Sign only if you trust the consultant performed it correctly
Correct answer: Decline to sign as it would be dishonest documentation
Signing documentation for procedures you did not perform or witness is dishonest and contravenes GMC guidance on probity.
Question 6: You are treating a patient who is also a close personal friend. What is the primary concern?
- The dual relationship may compromise clinical objectivity (Correct answer)
- You must immediately transfer their care to another doctor
- Personal knowledge of the patient improves care quality
- Friendship ensures the patient will be more honest with you
Correct answer: The dual relationship may compromise clinical objectivity
Treating friends creates conflicts of interest that can impair clinical judgment and professional boundaries.
Question 7: A patient discloses they are a healthcare worker and asks for their HIV test result over the phone without attending in person. What should you do?
- Follow standard protocol and ask them to attend in person for results (Correct answer)
- Give the result by phone because they are a healthcare professional
- Refuse to discuss the test at all by phone
- Only give a negative result by phone; require attendance for positive
Correct answer: Follow standard protocol and ask them to attend in person for results
Sensitive results such as HIV should be delivered in person regardless of the patient's professional background to allow proper support.
MSRA Professional Standards and Ethics 2
A patient with capacity refuses a blood transfusion on religious grounds.
They are bleeding heavily post-surgery.
What is the most appropriate action?