QMA Insulin Legal and Ethical Considerations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scenario represents a violation of a resident's right to dignity during insulin administration?
- Explaining the procedure before administering
- Exposing the resident unnecessarily in front of others (Correct answer)
- Offering a choice of injection site when clinically appropriate
- Using a calm and respectful tone
Correct answer: Exposing the resident unnecessarily in front of others
Unnecessarily exposing a resident violates their right to privacy and dignity, which must be maintained during all care.
Question 2: A QMA makes a medication error and gives insulin to the wrong resident. The first action should be:
- Document the error and move on
- Notify the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Notify the family before telling anyone at the facility
- Wait to see if the resident has a reaction before acting
Correct answer: Notify the nurse immediately
Immediate notification of the supervising nurse is the first priority after a medication error to ensure the resident receives prompt assessment and care.
Question 3: A QMA is asked by a supervisor to skip a resident's blood glucose check before insulin to save time. The QMA should:
- Skip the check since the supervisor authorized it
- Refuse and follow the standard protocol, reporting the request to a nurse (Correct answer)
- Do a quick visual assessment instead
- Skip it once but document that the supervisor requested it
Correct answer: Refuse and follow the standard protocol, reporting the request to a nurse
Pre-administration glucose checks are a safety standard; the QMA must refuse unsafe shortcuts and report inappropriate directives to a nurse.
Question 4: The legal concept that protects a QMA who reports suspected elder abuse in good faith is called:
- Respondeat superior
- Mandatory reporting immunity (Correct answer)
- Implied consent
- Standard of care
Correct answer: Mandatory reporting immunity
Most states provide legal immunity to mandatory reporters who report suspected abuse in good faith, protecting them from civil liability.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'informed consent' in the context of insulin therapy?
- The resident agrees to take all medications prescribed
- The resident is informed of the purpose, risks, and alternatives before agreeing to treatment (Correct answer)
- The family consents on behalf of any resident
- Consent is assumed if the resident does not object
Correct answer: The resident is informed of the purpose, risks, and alternatives before agreeing to treatment
Informed consent requires that the resident understands what is being done, why, and the risks before voluntarily agreeing to the treatment.
Question 6: A QMA who administers insulin beyond their authorized scope of practice may face:
- Only a verbal warning from their supervisor
- Loss of certification, civil liability, and possibly criminal charges (Correct answer)
- No consequences if no harm occurred
- A mandatory retraining course only
Correct answer: Loss of certification, civil liability, and possibly criminal charges
Practicing outside one's scope can result in loss of certification, civil liability for harm caused, and in some cases criminal prosecution.
Question 7: What does 'non-maleficence' mean in a QMA's ethical framework?
- Treating all residents equally
- Avoiding causing harm to the resident (Correct answer)
- Being honest with the resident
- Respecting the resident's decisions
Correct answer: Avoiding causing harm to the resident
Non-maleficence is the ethical principle of 'do no harm,' requiring the QMA to avoid actions that could injure or damage the resident.
QMA Insulin Legal and Ethical Considerations 3
Which scenario represents a violation of a resident's right to dignity during insulin administration?