OSCE Professional Ethics and Standards 3

Question 1

A patient discloses active suicidal ideation with a specific plan. Which ethical obligation overrides strict confidentiality in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Duty to warn and protect the patient from imminent harm

Answer

Imminent risk of self-harm creates a duty to protect that overrides the standard obligation of confidentiality.

Question 2

The principle of justice in healthcare ethics primarily concerns:

Accepted Answer

Fair distribution of healthcare resources and equal treatment

Answer

Justice requires equitable allocation of resources and non-discriminatory treatment of all patients.

Question 3

A patient asks for their medical record to be altered to remove a prior psychiatric diagnosis before applying for life insurance. The clinician should:

Accepted Answer

Explain that medical records cannot be falsified and offer to add a patient statement instead

Answer

Altering records to deceive third parties is fraud; clinicians can offer a formal patient statement addendum as a legal alternative.

Question 4

In an OSCE communication station, maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with a patient means:

Accepted Answer

Keeping the relationship focused on the patient's clinical needs

Answer

Professional boundaries ensure the therapeutic relationship remains focused on the patient's wellbeing and avoid exploitation.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes a conflict of interest in clinical practice?

Accepted Answer

A personal financial interest that could improperly influence clinical decision-making

Answer

A conflict of interest exists when a secondary interest—such as financial gain—could compromise a clinician's primary duty to the patient.

OSCE Practice Test

OSCE Practice Test

OSCE Professional Ethics and Standards 3