Professionalism & Medical Ethics Flashcards

A patient lacks decision-making capacity and has no advance directive. Who generally serves as the surrogate first under most US state hierarchies?

Answer: A court-appointed guardian or legal health care agent, then the spouse

Legally appointed agents or guardians come first, followed typically by spouse, adult children, and parents.

What standard should a surrogate use when the patient's prior wishes are known?

Answer: Substituted judgment standard

Substituted judgment asks what the patient would have chosen based on known values and wishes.

A physician ends a relationship with a patient without notice during an active course of treatment. This is best described as:

Answer: Abandonment

Ending care without reasonable notice and transfer arrangements constitutes patient abandonment.

A colleague appears intoxicated while seeing patients. What is the most appropriate first step?

Answer: Ensure patient safety and report through the appropriate channel

Physicians have an ethical duty to protect patients and report impaired colleagues through proper channels such as physician health programs.

Which federal law prohibits physicians from referring Medicare patients for designated health services to entities in which they have a financial interest, absent an exception?

Answer: Stark Law

The Stark Law bans self-referral for designated health services when the physician has a financial relationship, subject to exceptions.

Under HIPAA, which disclosure of protected health information is permitted without patient authorization?

Answer: Disclosing information to another provider for treatment purposes

HIPAA permits PHI disclosure for treatment, payment, and health care operations without separate authorization.

A physician begins a romantic relationship with a current patient. According to professional ethics codes, this is:

Answer: Unethical because of the power imbalance in the relationship

Romantic or sexual relationships with current patients are unethical because they exploit trust and power imbalance.