Duty of Care in Healthcare: Legal Responsibilities for Professionals

Question 1

What is the legal obligation that healthcare professionals have towards their patients known as?

Accepted Answer

Duty of care

Answer

Moral responsibility

Answer

Contractual agreement

Answer

Guarantee of positive outcomes

Question 2

What is the legal duty of care that a healthcare professional owes to their patient?

Accepted Answer

Acting reasonably and prudently in the circumstances

Answer

Providing the same level of care as other healthcare professionals

Answer

Guaranteeing a successful outcome

Answer

Following the instructions of the patient at all times

Question 3

What is the main purpose of obtaining informed consent in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that patients fully understand the risks and benefits of treatment

Answer

To obtain a patient's permission for a procedure

Answer

To protect healthcare professionals from liability

Answer

To document the patient's consent in writing

Question 4

Which of the following professional organisations regulates the conduct of registered nurses in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Answer

General Medical Council (GMC)

Answer

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Answer

Royal College of Surgeons (RCS)

Question 5

What is the ethical principle that requires healthcare professionals to respect patient autonomy?

Accepted Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Justice

Answer

Non-maleficence

Answer

Veracity

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a competent and compassionate healthcare professional?

Accepted Answer

Arrogance

Answer

Empathy

Answer

Communication skills

Answer

Technical competence

Question 7

Establishing a duty of care requires evidence that:

Accepted Answer

The healthcare professional could reasonably foresee potential harm.

Answer

The patient has a close personal relationship with the healthcare professional.

Question 8

In healthcare negligence cases, the legal standard used to determine whether a duty of care has been breached is:

Accepted Answer

Objective standard

Answer

Subjective standard

Question 9

Which factor is most likely to influence the scope of a healthcare professional's duty of care?

Accepted Answer

Patient's condition

Question 10

In duty of care cases, negligence refers to:

Accepted Answer

A breach of the established standard of care

Answer

Defines the standard of care

Question 11

Duty of care contributes to ethical and competent healthcare by:

Accepted Answer

Guiding decision-making in patient care

Answer

Guides decision-making in patient care

Question 12

In a healthcare setting, which of the following is NOT considered an element of negligence?

Accepted Answer

Mitigation of damages

Answer

Duty of care

Answer

Breach of duty

Answer

Causation

Question 13

A patient develops an infection after surgery due to inadequate post-operative wound care. Which type of negligence is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Ordinary negligence

Answer

Gross negligence

Answer

Vicarious liability

Answer

Contributory negligence

Question 14

A nurse administers medication to a patient without obtaining their informed consent. What type of legal liability could the nurse face?

Accepted Answer

Battery

Answer

Assault

Answer

False imprisonment

Answer

Medical negligence

Question 15

A patient's medical information is shared with an unauthorized third party. This may constitute a breach of what legal duty?

Accepted Answer

Duty of confidentiality

Answer

Duty of care

Answer

Duty to warn

Answer

Duty to disclose

Question 16

In a healthcare setting, who bears the primary responsibility for safeguarding the confidentiality of patient information?

Accepted Answer

The healthcare professional overseeing the patient's care

Answer

The patient

Answer

The nurse

Answer

The hospital's administration

Question 17

What defines the 'standard of care' for healthcare professionals?

Accepted Answer

The care a skilled healthcare professional would provide in similar circumstances.

Answer

The way a specific healthcare professional would act in a situation.

Answer

The minimum level of care needed to avoid legal issues.

Answer

The standard of care is decided by the courts for each case.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT an essential element required to establish negligence?

Accepted Answer

Damages

Answer

Duty of care

Answer

Breach of duty

Question 19

Which of the following is a key element of the duty of care in healthcare settings?

Accepted Answer

The healthcare professional's skills and knowledge

Answer

The patient's financial status

Answer

The patient's personal beliefs

Answer

The hospital's reputation

Question 20

Which of the following is a potential defense to a negligence claim in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

Contributory negligence

Answer

Vicarious liability

Answer

Res ipsa loquitur

Answer

Lack of informed consent

Question 21

What is the legal duty owed by healthcare professionals to their patients?

Accepted Answer

To exercise reasonable care and skill

Answer

To guarantee a positive outcome

Answer

To provide the most advanced treatment available

Answer

To follow the patient's every request

Question 22

What is the legal basis for the duty of care in healthcare in the United Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

Common law negligence

Answer

Statutory law

Answer

Patient's Bill of Rights

Answer

Professional codes of conduct

Question 23

Which of the following is an example of a foreseeable risk of harm in a healthcare setting?

Accepted Answer

Medication errors

Answer

The patient's race

Answer

The patient's gender

Question 24

What is the primary purpose of the duty of care in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

To protect patients from harm

Answer

To promote patient autonomy

Answer

To establish a standardized level of care

Answer

To ensure that healthcare professionals are highly paid

Question 25

Which of the following is a limitation of the duty of care in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

It does not extend to preventing all possible harm

Answer

It is an absolute obligation that cannot be breached

Answer

It applies only to doctors and nurses

Answer

It imposes a strict liability standard on healthcare professionals