Phlebotomy Test Legal and Ethics 2

Question 1

A patient verbally agrees to a blood draw but then pulls their arm away mid-procedure. What should the phlebotomist do?

Accepted Answer

Stop immediately and document the refusal

Answer

Withdrawing consent at any point must be respected; the phlebotomist must stop and document the incident.

Question 2

Which federal law primarily governs the privacy of patient health information in the United States?

Accepted Answer

HIPAA Privacy Rule

Answer

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) sets national standards for protecting patient health information.

Question 3

A phlebotomist accidentally mislabels a specimen, leading to an incorrect diagnosis. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Negligence

Answer

Negligence occurs when a healthcare professional fails to meet the standard of care, causing patient harm.

Question 4

What is the purpose of a chain of custody form in phlebotomy?

Accepted Answer

To track specimen handling from collection to analysis for legal integrity

Answer

Chain of custody documents every person who handles a specimen, ensuring its integrity for legal proceedings such as drug testing.

Question 5

A minor is brought in for a blood draw for an STI test. In most US states, the phlebotomist should:

Accepted Answer

Proceed, as minors can typically consent to STI testing themselves

Answer

Most states grant minors the legal right to consent to STI testing and treatment without parental involvement.

Phlebotomy Practice Test