Situational Judgement Flashcards

You are a medical student on placement and a patient confuses you for a qualified doctor and starts asking for clinical advice. The most appropriate action is:

Answer: Clarify your student status immediately, explain your role, and direct them to the appropriate clinician

Practising beyond one's competence or misrepresenting one's role is dangerous and unethical. Immediate clarification is required.

A colleague tells you they have been driving to work despite a diagnosis of epilepsy and has not informed the DVLA as required. The most appropriate response is:

Answer: Strongly urge the colleague to inform the DVLA themselves, and explain that if they do not, you may need to breach confidentiality in the public interest

The colleague has a legal duty to inform the DVLA. You should try to persuade them to self-report. Only if they refuse and the risk to public safety is serious should confidentiality be breached.

During a ward round, a consultant makes a racist remark about a patient within earshot of the team. The most appropriate response is:

Answer: Address the issue with the consultant privately after the ward round and escalate to the clinical lead if needed

Discriminatory behaviour must be challenged. A private, professional conversation with the consultant is appropriate first. If behaviour continues or is serious, formal reporting is required.

A patient explicitly asks not to be resuscitated but no DNACPR form is in place. You are alone and the patient arrests. The most appropriate action is:

Answer: Attempt resuscitation — a valid DNACPR form must be in place; a verbal statement without documentation is insufficient in an emergency

Without a valid, documented DNACPR decision in the notes, the legal default in an emergency is to attempt resuscitation. Verbal statements alone are insufficient in an emergency code situation.

A student overhears a nurse giving incorrect medication information to a patient. The most appropriate action is:

Answer: Politely interrupt to correct the error — patient safety takes priority — then report to the supervising clinician

Patient safety always takes precedence over hierarchical concerns. A polite, immediate correction followed by reporting to a supervisor is the right course of action.

A terminally ill patient asks you directly: 'Am I dying?' The most appropriate response is:

Answer: Answer honestly and compassionately in line with the patient's wishes, their capacity, and supported by the clinical team

Honesty is a core professional duty. Patients have a right to information about their condition. The response must be compassionate, tailored to the patient's capacity and expressed wishes.