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Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance Flashcards

6 cards from real SCMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance flashcards as text

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

    Answer: HIPAA

    HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) establishes national standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information.

  2. What is informed consent?

    Answer: A patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure after being fully explained risks, benefits, and alternatives

    Informed consent requires that patients voluntarily agree to treatment after receiving a complete explanation of the procedure, its risks, benefits, and alternatives.

  3. Under HIPAA, which of the following is considered protected health information (PHI)?

    Answer: A patient's name combined with their diagnosis

    PHI includes any individually identifiable health information such as a patient's name linked with their medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment.

  4. What is the medical assistant's responsibility when asked to perform a task outside their scope of practice?

    Answer: Refuse and report the request to a supervisor

    Medical assistants must refuse tasks outside their scope of practice and report the request to a supervisor to protect patient safety and legal compliance.

  5. Which ethical principle requires healthcare workers to do no harm?

    Answer: Nonmaleficence

    Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle of 'do no harm,' obligating healthcare providers to avoid actions that cause unnecessary injury or suffering.

  6. A patient asks you not to share their medical information with their spouse. What should the medical assistant do?

    Answer: Honor the patient's request and document it

    Patients have the right to control who receives their health information, and the medical assistant must honor and document this request under HIPAA.

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