Question 1

Which community member would be an appropriate choice for an ethics committee member?

Accepted Answer

A town council member is likely to be familiar with the needs and concerns of the community, making them a suitable choice for an ethics committee that needs to consider the community's perspective.

Question 2

Which of the following should describe ethics committee members?

Accepted Answer

Ethics committee members should be known for their high moral principles and reasoning skills (A) and be competent in their areas of expertise (B) to effectively address ethical issues.

Question 3

Which step would an ethics committee following Nelson's multistep model take first?

Accepted Answer

The first step in Nelson's multistep model is to define the conflict and the ethical question involved, as it sets the foundation for understanding the issue at hand.

Question 4

A physician begins to experience headaches and fatigue and is uncharacteristically irritable both at the hospital and at home. When asked about work, the physician expresses frustration at staffing shortages leading to delays in care implementation and patient discomfort. The physician is exhibiting signs of which phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

The physician is experiencing moral distress, which occurs when one knows the right thing to do but is constrained from doing it due to external factors, such as staffing shortages, leading to frustration and emotional symptoms.

Question 5

Which step should an ethics committee take when addressing an ethical crisis?

Accepted Answer

Conducting thorough research using multiple reliable sources ensures that the ethics committee has a comprehensive understanding of the crisis, which is essential for making informed and ethical decisions.

Question 6

Which is an anticipated impact of the aging baby boomer generation on healthcare providers?

Accepted Answer

As the baby boomer generation ages, there will be an increased demand for healthcare services, but simultaneously, many healthcare providers from this generation will retire, leading to a potential shortage.

Question 7

Which action would show disregard for the ethical concerns related to the newly dead?

Accepted Answer

Moving the newly dead to the morgue as quickly as possible without considering the family's need for time with the deceased can show disregard for ethical concerns related to respecting the family's grieving process and the dignity of the deceased.

Question 8

The increased emphasis on ethical policy development today is a result of The Joint Commission's 1992 mandate that required all hospitals to form an ethics committee.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The increased emphasis on ethical policy development...

Question 9

A primary challenge faced by HEC educators is convincing staff of the need for and benefits of ethics training.

Accepted Answer

Convincing staff of the importance and benefits of ethics training can be challenging due to varying perceptions of its relevance and impact on professional practice.

Question 10

HECs should base decisions related to resource allocation on community values, legal requirements, and local and national politics.

Accepted Answer

The answer of HECs should base decisions related to resource...

Question 11

A hospital's IRB might determine that an experimental treatment poses too many risks relative to the potential benefit to the patient and recommend that the treatment not be offered at that facility.

Accepted Answer

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for reviewing research proposals to ensure the safety and ethical treatment of participants, and they can decide against a treatment if risks outweigh benefits.

Question 12

Hospitals do not include clergy members on ethics committees unless the hospital is a faith-based institution.

Accepted Answer

Clergy members can be included on hospital ethics committees regardless of whether the hospital is faith-based, as they can provide valuable perspectives on ethical and spiritual issues.

Question 13

A nurse reporting concerns about lax charting by members of the patient care staff is showing signs of moral residue.

Accepted Answer

Moral residue refers to the lingering feelings of guilt or unease after a moral or ethical dilemma, not simply reporting concerns.

Quiz 6: Healthcare Ethics Committees: Roles, Memberships, Structure, and Difficulties