Medical Law and Ethics Flashcards

Which ethical principle requires a healthcare provider to act in the patient's best interest?

Answer: Beneficence

Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good and acting in the best interest of the patient.

A patient tells the medical assistant they are thinking about harming themselves. What is the most appropriate action?

Answer: Immediately notify the supervising provider

Threats of self-harm must be reported immediately to the supervising provider, as patient safety supersedes normal confidentiality obligations.

What does the term 'scope of practice' mean for a medical assistant?

Answer: The specific tasks and procedures a medical assistant is legally and professionally permitted to perform

Scope of practice defines the procedures, actions, and processes a healthcare professional is permitted to perform based on their education, training, and licensure.

Which document allows a designated person to make healthcare decisions on behalf of a patient who becomes incapacitated?

Answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare

A durable power of attorney for healthcare designates a healthcare proxy to make medical decisions if the patient is unable to do so.

Which of the following is an example of patient abandonment?

Answer: A provider terminates care without proper notice or transfer of care

Patient abandonment occurs when a provider unilaterally ends the patient-provider relationship without adequate notice or arrangement for continued care.

What is mandatory reporting in the context of a medical assistant's duties?

Answer: Legally required reporting of specific conditions (abuse, communicable diseases) to government authorities

Mandatory reporting laws require healthcare workers to report specific conditions such as child abuse, elder abuse, and certain communicable diseases to designated authorities.