Deck 24: Professional Ethics

Question 1

Which of the following choices could be classified as an ethical outrage?

A) Repeating a radiograph because the patient moved during the exposure
B) A technologist refusing to complete a procedure because his shift is over
C) Not repeating an image that demonstrates marginal image noise
D) A technologist consistently forgetting to wear his or her personnel monitoring device

Answer 1

B

Question 2

All of the following are related except

A) selecting the best solution and defending it.
B) looking for a similar situation as a precedent.
C) defining the real problem.
D) working out alternative solutions.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following best defines fidelity?

A) Producing an image that faithfully represents the patient's medical status
B) Being totally honest and truthful about the fluoroscopic exposure they received
C) Saying a short prayer with the patient as they await an interventional procedure to begin
D) Filling in for a colleague who became sick at the start of the procedure

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following would be considered an unethical practice for a radiologic technologist?

A) Repeating a radiograph because of incorrect technique selection
B) Watching an interesting case
C) Criticizing a doctor or team member in a private or public forum
D) Reporting unethical practices of a coworker

Question 5

When you were a student radiographer,the importance of radiation protection was constantly stressed,and you have incorporated the principle of ALARA as a professional value.As an employee working within a busy imaging department,you work with some technologists who do not practice radiation protection as you have been taught.One technologist in particular routinely overexposes patients to get a "perfect image for the radiologist." This poor technologist practice would be an example of

A) an ethical violation.
B) a hospital rule violation.
C) poor morals.
D) a violation of personal values.

Question 6

A patient arrives for her annual mammogram and registers with reception.Then she goes to the dressing room as instructed and puts on the gown that was given to her.As you bring her into the mammography room,she answers a few routine questions and listens intently as you explain the procedure to her.It is safe to assume as the mammographer that

A) a social contract has been established between the patient and the mammographer.
B) the patient is expecting a normal mammogram.
C) the patient's previous annual mammogram was uneventful.
D) the patient is coming in as a self-referral.

Question 7

You are the director of a busy medical imaging department.One of your technologists has been accused of looking up the personal medical records and radiography reports of his brother's girlfriend.The girlfriend visited the hospital as a patient for an ultrasound examination of the pelvis to rule out pregnancy.Disciplinary action for this technologist would be appropriate because of a violation of

A) local statutes and ordinances.
B) state laws.
C) federal constitutional laws.
D) professional ethics.

Question 8

You are enjoying an evening with a friend at the theater.The person seated behind you routinely texts messages to his girlfriend about the movie and what is happening.This behavior would be a

A) violation of local laws and ordinances.
B) ethical violation.
C) violation of socially accepted values.
D) moral violation.

Question 9

Failure to pay one's federal income taxes would be an example of a(n)

A) misdemeanor violation.
B) moral violation.
C) professional conduct violation.
D) violation of federal law.

Question 10

Using moral rules as your complete guide to determine appropriate professional behavior

A) is a reliable strategy to avoid ethical dilemmas.
B) assumes everyone has the same moral values as you do,which is generally true.
C) is too restrictive and of no value in decision making.
D) has its weaknesses because others may not have the same moral value system as you.

Question 11

You are placed in an unfortunate situation with a patient that requires you to tell a small "white lie" regarding the late arrival of the radiologist.The patient is noticeably upset about the procedure having to be done at all and is quite anxious.You are aware that the radiologist and the patient's surgeon are meeting in his office to discuss the best approach to deal with this patient's cancer.You feel certain that telling the patient the truth as to why the radiologist is late would increase her anxiety.This technologist is practicing

A) unethical and immoral radiography.
B) consequentialism.
C) nonconsequentialism.
D) in a negligent manner.

Question 12

Being rude and impolite to a patient's family members because they are asking how long an examination will take,is an example of a(n)

A) ethics violation.
B) violation of the institution's standards of care.
C) professional etiquette violation.
D) ethical dilemma.

Question 13

All professional decisions in medical imaging and other health care practices involve a consideration of

A) human values.
B) local laws.
C) union contract restrictions.
D) religious doctrine.

Question 14

When undertaking an ethical analysis,

A) identification of human values pertinent to the analysis must be considered.
B) group personal values should be discussed as used as a guide.
C) your ARRT certification needs to be included in the analysis.
D) seniority with your employer should be considered.

Question 15

The best way to characterize an ethical dilemma is to describe it as the

A) correct choice is absolutely identified with clear outcomes.
B) incorrect choice is absolutely identified with clear consequences.
C) correct choice is not entirely clear and has both positive and negative consequences.
D) moral thing to do based on your religious values.

Question 16

The term veracity refers to

A) preventing evil and harm.
B) doing no harm but also doing good.
C) telling the truth.
D) being persistent and tenacious.

Question 17

After a stressful CT scan on a patient,you are confronted by the patient's family regarding the results of the examination.The patient was in a motor vehicle accident and has a severe head injury.The images you took are being sent to a "Nighthawk" reading service and will not be available for several minutes.The family insists they have a "right" to know the results immediately so they can make a decision about organ donation.How would you rationalize this situation to yourself as an imaging professional?

A) Your duty as a professional is to complete a quality CT examination quickly,not to interpret the images,and to do no harm to the patient.
B) You tell the family what you saw on the images as an act of veracity.
C) You tell the emergency department nurse about the images as an act of nonmaleficence.
D) You call the organ donor program director to tell him of the patient's condition as an act of fidelity.

Question 18

A technologist who has completed a procedure on a patient leaves the area grumbling,"I hate to do HIV patients because I am afraid of catching the disease." A member of the housekeeping staff hears the technologist and asks who the HIV patient is so he can pass the information along to his coworkers for safety reasons.The technologist responds by giving the patient's name and room number.This act constitutes a(n)

A) ethical dilemma.
B) ethics violation.
C) moral violation.
D) social error.

Question 19

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)reserves the right to revoke any certification from an individual whom it has registered.Reasons for revocation can vary from ethical violations to failure to maintain continuing education credits,just to mention two.This process of sanctioning demonstrates professional _____ to society.

A) morals
B) self-regulation
C) ethics
D) collective bargaining