OSCE Professional Ethics and Standards 2

Question 1

A patient refuses a blood transfusion on religious grounds despite a life-threatening hemorrhage. Which ethical principle is the clinician most obligated to respect?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Competent adult patients have the right to refuse treatment, and respecting that decision upholds the principle of autonomy even when clinicians disagree.

Question 2

During an OSCE station, a student observes a peer copying notes from a hidden cheat sheet. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Report it to the examiner or institution

Answer

Academic integrity policies require students to report observed misconduct to the appropriate authority rather than ignoring it.

Question 3

A clinician learns that a colleague is practicing while impaired by alcohol. What is the most ethically appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Report the colleague to the appropriate licensing board or supervisor

Answer

Clinicians have a professional and ethical duty to report impaired colleagues to protect patient safety.

Question 4

Which document should a clinician consult first when a patient cannot make decisions and no advance directive exists?

Accepted Answer

The patient's closest next of kin as surrogate decision-maker

Answer

When a patient lacks decision-making capacity and has no advance directive, a surrogate decision-maker—typically the next of kin—is identified according to state law.

Question 5

A pediatric patient's parents demand a treatment that the clinical team believes is futile. The most ethical course of action is to:

Accepted Answer

Engage the family in a goals-of-care conversation and involve the ethics committee if needed

Answer

When clinicians and families disagree about futility, structured communication and ethics consultation are the recommended steps.

OSCE Practice Test

OSCE Practice Test

OSCE Professional Ethics and Standards 2