Medical Ethics and Liability Review

A patient requests to see her chart. What should you do?

• Give the chart to the patient

• Notify the physician

• Make a copy for the patient

• Refuse the patient and tell them the chart is not their property

A man is found lying unconscious outside the medical unit you work in. You alert your co-worker who intern notifies the physician. It is clear that the person will not be able to sign a consent form for treatment. How should the physician handle this situation?

• The physician should wait for the friend or family member of the person to arrive so they can sign the consent form.

• Implied consent should be used until the person can give consent.

• The building administration should evaluate the situation and obtain consent.

• The healthcare surrogate should be solicited to provide informed consent

HIPAA applies to

• All health information

• Protected medical data only

• Written information only

• Verbal and electronic information only

The statute of limitation indicates:

• The privacy rights of a minor receiving care.

• The risks that are presented to a patient before treatment.

• The time span during which a patient can file a suit against a caregiver.

• The right of a physician to have another physician care for his patients while he is not available

Which branch of law covers injuries suffered because of another person's wrongdoings resulting from breach of legal duty?

• Common Law

• Administrative Law

• Private Law

• Tort Law

HIPAA stands for

• Health Information Privacy Accountability and Affordability Act

• Health Insurance Privacy and Accommodation Acceptance

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

• Health Inaccuracy Proetection and Accessibility Act

Which of the following can lead a patient to file a suit for abandonment against a physician?

• A suitable substitute is not available for care after termination of the contract.

• The patient disagrees with the reasons the physician states for the termination of the contract.

• The physician transfers the patient's medical records to another physician of the patient's choice

• The physician verbally asks to terminate the contract.

The court may assess contributory negligence when

• Physicians malpractice is aggravated by the patient.

• Patient gives inaccurate information that leads to the wrong treatment.

• Team of physicians incorrectly diagnoses the patient

• Patient does not follow the physicians prescribed treatment properly.

Samantha wants to call an ethics consult to clarify treatment goals for a patient who is no longer able to speak for himself. She believes his dying is being prolonged painfully. She is troubled when the doctor tells her that she'll be fired if she raises questions about his care or calls the consult. This is a good example of:

• Ethical uncertainty

• Ethical distress

• Ethical dilemma

• Ethical courage

Which of the following is the best professional response to a patient who tells you that she believes that "white health professionals are smarter than those of color," and asks you to agree?

• "You're right!" (The patient/customer is always right.)

• "What I think doesn't matter. What is important is whatever you believe."

• "I don't believe being smart is related to race or ethnicity."

• "Are you crazy? This is the 21st century and you are still thinking like that. "