Professional Practice & Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real STP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Practice & Ethics flashcards as text
A scientist discovers a minor error in a published paper after it has been cited 50 times. What is the most appropriate course of action?
Answer: Contact the journal editor to issue a correction
The appropriate action is to notify the journal editor so a formal correction or erratum can be issued, maintaining the integrity of the scientific record.
Which of the following best describes the principle of 'non-maleficence' in research ethics?
Answer: Avoiding harm to participants
Non-maleficence means 'do no harm' and requires researchers to avoid causing unnecessary harm to participants or the public.
During a clinical trial, an interim analysis reveals unexpected serious adverse events. What should the principal investigator do first?
Answer: Immediately inform the ethics committee and regulatory authorities
Unexpected serious adverse events must be immediately reported to the ethics committee and regulatory authorities to protect participant safety.
A colleague asks you to list them as a co-author on a paper despite their only contribution being providing lab space. What should you do?
Answer: Decline and offer acknowledgement instead
Authorship requires a substantive intellectual contribution; providing only lab space warrants acknowledgement, not co-authorship.
What is the primary purpose of a Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) in a clinical trial?
Answer: To independently review accumulating data and recommend stopping if necessary
A DSMB independently reviews accumulating safety and efficacy data and can recommend early termination to protect participants.
A researcher in the STP is offered a paid consultancy by a company whose product they are evaluating in their NHS work. What must they do?
Answer: Declare the potential conflict of interest to their line manager and follow local policy
Conflicts of interest must be declared to the employing organisation, which will apply its policy to determine whether the arrangement is permissible.
Which document underpins ethical conduct in research involving human participants in the UK?
Answer: The Health Research Authority (HRA) standards and the Declaration of Helsinki
HRA standards, informed by the Declaration of Helsinki and UK legislation, provide the framework for ethical research involving human participants in the UK.