Question 1

Specimen loss, mislabeling, and improper preparation are examples of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Specimen loss, mislabeling, and improper preparation are all examples of medical negligence, which is the failure to provide reasonable care resulting in harm to the patient. It is not intentional tort, which involves deliberately harming someone, or battery, which involves unconsented physical contact. Defamation involves making false statements that harm someone's reputation, which is unrelated to the scenario given.

Question 2

If a patient suffered a burn as a result of improper application of the ESU dispersive (grounding) pad, the individual team member responsible may be found guilty in a lawsuit of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Negligence is the correct answer because it involves harm caused by a failure to act as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances. In this case, improper application of the ESU dispersive pad by a healthcare professional, leading to a patient's burn, would likely be considered a failure to meet the standard of care expected, thus constituting negligence.

Question 3

Verification that educational programs meet minimum accreditation standards is done by:

Accepted Answer

CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) is responsible for ensuring that educational programs in health sciences, including surgical technology, meet minimum accreditation standards. AST (Association of Surgical Technologists) and NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting) are professional organizations that provide certification and professional development opportunities for surgical technologists. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a federal law that regulates the privacy and security of patient health information.

Question 4

According to the Joint Commission's definition regarding consent to surgical intervention, which party has "autonomy"?

Accepted Answer

The patient has autonomy, meaning they have the right to make decisions about their own healthcare and give informed consent for surgical intervention. The other healthcare providers listed may have important roles in the surgery, but they do not have autonomy in this context.

Question 5

In a common adage, what is the "best medicine" in health care?

Accepted Answer

The common adage is "laughter is the best medicine" which suggests that humor and positivity play an important role in promoting health and well-being. However, in a more literal sense, prevention is also considered the best medicine as it helps avoid illnesses and diseases before they even occur, leading to a healthier lifestyle overall.

Question 6

Which of the following terms describes the system of moral principles and rules that become standards of conduct for professionals?

Accepted Answer

Ethics refer to the system of moral principles and rules that become standards of conduct for professionals. Doctrines refer to a set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a particular group, usually religious in nature. Morals refer to a person's own principles or standards of conduct, often shaped by religion or personal values. Precedents refer to legal decisions that become recognized as a standard for future cases.

Question 7

Which part of the patient's medical record documentation would contain pre-op and post-op diagnoses, positioning, skin prep, start and stop times, counts, and dressings?

Accepted Answer

The intraoperative record typically includes pre-op and post-op diagnoses, positioning, skin prep, start and stop times, counts, and dressings. The anesthesia record documents the patient's vital signs and medications during anesthesia. An advance directive and informed consent are separate documents related to the patient's wishes and the surgical procedure.

Question 8

The legal term that identifies the knowledge and skills required for a profession and describes a health care provider's core accountability, based on education, experience, and credentialing is:

Accepted Answer

The term that identifies the knowledge and skills required for a profession and describes a healthcare provider's core accountability, based on education, experience, and credentialing is the scope of practice. The scope of practice outlines the specific tasks and responsibilities that a healthcare provider is authorized to perform within their profession. This includes their limitations, such as tasks they are not qualified to perform or situations where they need to consult with a physician. Therefore, option D is the correct answer. Options A, B, and C are not the most appropriate because they do not fully capture the concept of a healthcare provider's core accountability or the specific tasks they are authorized to perform. Professional liability refers to the legal responsibility for harm caused by a professional's actions, policies and procedures refer to the rules and regulations that govern the workplace, and recommended standards of practice refer to the guidelines for providing safe and effective care.

Question 9

Surgical team members who fail to monitor and protect a medicated patient from falling could be charged with:

Accepted Answer

Abandonment in the medical field refers to the failure of a healthcare provider to continue treating or monitoring a patient without proper notification or without arranging for an equivalent care replacement. In the context of a surgical team not monitoring and protecting a medicated patient from falling, this could be seen as a failure to provide the necessary ongoing care, thus constituting abandonment.

Question 10

Which of the following terms describes the principles such as benevolence, trustworthiness, and honesty for the care and well-being of others in society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following terms describes the...

Question 11

Which legal doctrine would be MOST applicable in a case involving injury to a patient as a result of a hospital employee's lack of proper training or credentialing?

Accepted Answer

The doctrine of corporate negligence holds the institution (in this case, the hospital) responsible for the actions of their employees or agents, including the failure to properly train or credential them. This doctrine recognizes that the hospital has a duty to ensure the competency of their staff and that failure to do so can result in harm to patients.

Question 12

Graduates of CAAHEP or ABHES programs are eligible to sit for the CST or CSFA examinations administered by:

Accepted Answer

Graduates of CAAHEP or ABHES programs are eligible to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) or Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) examinations administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a form of individual professional credentialing that protects the public from unqualified health care providers?

Accepted Answer

Accreditation is a process by which an educational program or institution is recognized for meeting certain standards, but it is not a form of individual professional credentialing. Certification, licensure, and registration all involve evaluating an individual's qualifications and granting the legal right to practice a profession.

Question 14

Which of the following would NOT be considered an example of a potential ethical dilemma?

Accepted Answer

Patient privacy is not an ethical dilemma in itself; it is a principle that healthcare providers are expected to uphold. Ethical dilemmas arise when there are conflicting values or principles, such as in the cases of genetic engineering, elective abortion, and the right to die, where different ethical principles may conflict.

Question 15

Which type of legal action is MOST likely in cases involving tort law and operating room personnel?

Accepted Answer

The most likely legal action in cases involving tort law and operating room personnel is civil, in which an individual sues for damages suffered as a result of negligence or intentional harm. Criminal charges are less common in such cases and are only pursued when there is evidence of criminal intent or behavior. Federal and statutory laws may be relevant but are not necessarily the primary basis for litigation in these cases.

Question 16

Which legal doctrine would be MOST applicable in a case involving failure by the RN and CST to do proper surgical counts resulting in retention of a foreign object and the surgeon being found not liable?

Accepted Answer

The doctrine of borrowed servant applies when a surgeon is not held liable for the actions of hospital staff, such as an RN or CST, if they are considered to be under the control of the hospital rather than the surgeon.

Question 17

For which of the following processes are identification and reporting of unsafe conditions and hazards MOST critical?

Accepted Answer

Risk management involves identifying and managing potential risks in order to prevent harm to patients, staff, and visitors. Identification and reporting of unsafe conditions and hazards are crucial components of effective risk management. This allows for timely intervention and correction before any harm occurs. The other options listed (advance directives, informed consent, unintentional torts) do not rely as heavily on identification and reporting of unsafe conditions and hazards.

Question 18

Which of the following forms of consent is defined by the Joint Commission as "agreement or permission accompanied by full notice about what is being consented to"?

Accepted Answer

The Joint Commission defines informed consent as "agreement or permission accompanied by full notice about what is being consented to." Therefore, choice C, informed consent, is the correct answer. General consent refers to consent given for any routine medical procedures that may be necessary during a hospital stay. Implied consent is assumed based on a patient's behaviors or actions. Special consent is specific to a particular procedure or treatment.

Question 19

Which of the following terms meets the following definition: a voluntary and informed act in which one party gives permission to another party to "touch"?

Accepted Answer

Consent is the voluntary and informed act in which one party gives permission to another party to touch, perform a medical procedure or intervention, or engage in sexual activity. Advance directives are legal documents that enable individuals to make decisions about their medical care in advance, while they are still capable of making their own decisions. Battery refers to the intentional and harmful physical contact with another person without their consent. Time-out is a behavioral intervention used to manage and discipline children.

Question 20

The best assurance of safe and individual professional behavior by the CST or CSFA is a well-developed, unyielding:

Accepted Answer

A surgical conscience is a professional attitude in which the CST or CSFA takes personal responsibility for his or her actions in the surgical environment. It involves following proper procedures, maintaining proper relationships with other members of the surgical team, and adhering to ethical standards. By developing a strong surgical conscience, the CST or CSFA ensures that he or she will always act in the best interest of the patient and provide safe, individual professional behavior. A core curriculum and scope of practice are important, but alone they do not provide the same level of assurance as a strong surgical conscience. Liability insurance may provide financial protection in the event of a lawsuit, but it does not ensure safe and individual professional behavior by the CST or CSFA.

Quiz 2: Legal Concepts, Risk Management, and Ethical Issues