Medical Ethics & Patient Rights Flashcards
7 cards from real SHS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medical Ethics & Patient Rights flashcards as text
Which scenario represents a breach of the ethical principle of veracity (truth-telling)?
Answer: Withholding a terminal diagnosis from a patient at the family's request
Withholding a diagnosis from a competent patient — even at family request — violates the principle of veracity, which requires honesty in provider-patient communication.
A patient in the ICU has no advance directive and cannot communicate. No family is reachable. Who typically serves as the decision-maker?
Answer: The hospital's ethics committee or a court-appointed guardian
When no surrogate is available and no advance directive exists, the ethics committee guides decisions or a court may appoint a guardian to protect patient interests.
Which of the following best describes a conflict of interest in healthcare?
Answer: A researcher receiving financial incentives from a drug company whose product they are studying
A conflict of interest exists when a personal benefit — such as financial gain — could improperly influence a professional's judgment or actions.
Therapeutic privilege, which allows withholding information from a patient, is ethically justified only when:
Answer: Disclosure would cause serious psychological harm that impairs decision-making
Therapeutic privilege is a narrow exception to disclosure when truthful information would cause significant harm that prevents rational decision-making — not merely discomfort.
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study is most directly referenced to explain the importance of which ethical safeguard?
Answer: Informed consent and protection of vulnerable populations in research
The Tuskegee study, in which Black men were denied syphilis treatment without their knowledge, directly led to federal regulations mandating informed consent and IRB oversight.
When a patient's cultural beliefs conflict with recommended medical treatment, the provider's first step should be to:
Answer: Engage in culturally sensitive dialogue to understand the patient's perspective
Culturally competent care requires respectful dialogue to understand the patient's values before determining how to align treatment planning.
Which action constitutes patient abandonment in a healthcare setting?
Answer: A provider terminating care without adequate notice or alternative arrangements
Patient abandonment occurs when a provider unilaterally ends a treatment relationship without giving proper notice or ensuring the patient has access to continued care.