Deck 20: Ethics

Question 1

Health care professionals often come into contact with very sick patients many of whom have contagious illnesses. Which of the following groups of patients is it ethically acceptable to decline to serve because of the risk these patients may pose to the professional's personal health?

A)People with HIV/AIDS
B)People with viral hepatitis
C) People exposed to agents of biological warfare
D) People infected by multi-drug resistant tuberculosis
E) None of the above

Answer 1

None of the above

Question 2

When a person is chosen as a health care proxy for another individual, the choices the proxy makes should be guided by:

A) The recommendations of the treating physician.
B)The recommendations of the patient's family and friends.
C)The proxy's best estimate of the choices the person himself might have made.

Answer 2

The proxy's best estimate of the choices the person himself might have made.

Question 3

A fundamental principle of patient care is confidentiality-the principle that a health care provider will guard the details of a person's health history, unless the patient grants the privilege to reveal it to others. Which of the following statements reflect ethically A fundamental principle of patient care is confidentiality-the principle that a health care provider will guard the details of a person's health history, unless the patient grants the privilege to reveal it to others. Which of the following statements reflect ethically acceptable limits to the principle of confidentiality?

A) Health care professionals have a duty to warn a person threatened by a patient.
B) Health care professionals have a duty to inform a parent when an emancipated minor seeks health care for an unintended pregnancy.
C) Health care professionals should tell a patient's close family members about a patient's fatal illness, even when the patient explicitly refuses to deny them access to this information.
D) There are no ethical or legal limits to the principle of confidentiality.

Answer 3

Health care professionals have a duty to warn a person threatened by a patient.

Question 4

Patients demonstrate the principle of "autonomy" when:

A) They make choices about health care, freely (without coercion or undue influence from others).
B)They ask health care professionals to make challenging decisions on their behalf.
C) They make decisions based on their calculations of monetary cost.
D) They make decisions under the leadership of their spiritual advisers or counselors.

Question 5

A physician may ethically terminate a relationship with a patient when:

A)The patient does not pay his bills.
B)The patient is dying.
C) The patient requests a copy of her medical record.
D) The patient and physician disagree about a philosophical approach to health care, and another competent health care provider is available.

Question 6

A patient is transported to an emergency room in a coma. Her condition rapidly deteriorates--but because of her mental status--she cannot actively agree to receive health care. Under a circumstance like this, which of the following reflects the most accurate statement of the obligations of health care professionals?

A)The patient is not awake, cannot grant consent for treatment, and cannot ethically be treated.
B) The patient's presence in the emergency department shows that consent for treatment is implied. Her doctors and nurses can initiate care for the patient using their own best judgments.
C) A judge must decide if the patient can be treated.
D) Family members must be found, and consent obtained, in order to initiate treatment.

Question 7

A nurse should voluntarily remove herself from a caregiving role if: [choose more than one answer]

A) She finds the care of a particular patient physically tiring.
B)She is impaired by drugs or alcohol.
C) He does not like working with other staff members who are on duty with him.
D) He has an important, emotionally challenging nonprofessional relationship with the patient.

Question 8

A patient offers a healthcare professional a valuable gift, and in relaying the gift says, "I hope you will make certain I am seen before the other patients on the ward. I know I can count on you." The healthcare professional should:

A)Accept the gift and ignore the patient's comments.
B)Accept the gift, and honor the patient's request.
C) Thank the patient for the gesture, but decline to accept the gift.
D) Thank the patient for the gift, and let the patient know that he will try his best to accommodate the patient's request.

Question 9

A health care professional takes a job at a prison and is asked to care for an individual who has committed murder. The inmate:

A) Has forfeited his civil rights as a result of his crime and conviction, and can be enrolled in human research protocols without consenting to them.
B)Should be questioned closely about the reasons for his criminal act, and if he shows remorse, receive standard medical care.
C) Should be executed at a time and place designated by the law, with the professional participation of the health care provider.
D) Has the right to refuse treatments ordered by his physician.

Question 10

It is ethically acceptable to:

A)Refer patients exclusively to a facility in which you have a private commercial interest.
B) Treat an adolescent for a sexually transmitted illness, even though the patient asks you not to inform his mother.
C) Accept gifts, meals, and trips from pharmaceutical company representatives.
D) Testify that an individual is physically disabled because you know they need the money and cannot get it from any other source, even though you know the person is capable of working.