OCC Professionalism & Medical Ethics 3

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Substituted judgment standard

Answer

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

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Abandonment

Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Ensure patient safety and report through the appropriate channel

Answer

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

Question 5

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?

Accepted Answer

Stark Law

Answer

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

OCC - Osteopathic Continuous Certification Practice Test

OCC - Osteopathic Continuous Certification Practice Test

OCC Professionalism & Medical Ethics 3