Healthcare Ethics: Ethical Issues in Healthcare Practice

Question 1

Which four ethical principles form the foundation of ethical healthcare practice?

Accepted Answer

Beneficence, Autonomy, Justice, Non-Maleficence

Answer

Confidentiality, Autonomy, Justice, Beneficence

Answer

Fidelity, Autonomy, Non-Maleficence, Justice

Answer

Beneficence, Autonomy, Veracity, Justice

Question 2

Describe the principle of patient confidentiality. Discuss the situations where healthcare professionals may be legally or ethically justified in breaking this principle.

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality can be broken if the healthcare professional believes it is in the patient's best interests.

Answer

Patient confidentiality can only be broken with the patient's explicit consent.

Answer

Healthcare professionals are never justified in breaking patient confidentiality.

Question 3

In healthcare, informed consent is crucial. Explain its key elements and discuss the challenges healthcare professionals encounter when seeking it.

Accepted Answer

Key elements of informed consent include capacity, voluntariness, and disclosure of relevant information.

Accepted Answer

Challenges in obtaining informed consent include language barriers, cognitive impairments, and emergencies.

Answer

Healthcare professionals must obtain informed consent even if the patient is unconscious.

Answer

Informed consent is only necessary for major medical procedures.

Question 4

In end-of-life care, which ethical principle should be prioritized when making decisions?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Non-maleficence

Answer

Justice

Question 5

Which ethical principle requires healthcare professionals to act in the best interests of the patients under their care?

Accepted Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Non-maleficence

Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Justice

Question 6

Which factor should NOT influence decision-making about end-of-life care, as it is primarily guided by patient preferences and well-being?

Accepted Answer

The healthcare professional's personal beliefs

Answer

The patient's wishes and values

Answer

The family's desires

Answer

The patient's quality of life and prognosis

Question 7

Which ethical principle emphasizes the fair and equitable treatment of all patients, regardless of their background or circumstances?

Accepted Answer

Justice

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Non-maleficence

Answer

Autonomy

Question 8

Which legal consequences can healthcare professionals face if they ignore ethical principles in their decision-making?

Accepted Answer

Civil lawsuits and financial penalties

Accepted Answer

Criminal charges

Accepted Answer

Disciplinary actions and loss of license

Answer

No legal repercussions

Question 9

Which of the following is a fundamental ethical principle in healthcare practice?

Accepted Answer

Respect for patient autonomy

Answer

Obtaining informed consent is sufficient for ethical healthcare

Answer

Confidentiality is only important for celebrities and public figures

Answer

Healthcare professionals must always prioritize their superiors' directives over patient preferences

Question 10

When a patient with a terminal illness requests withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, which ethical principle should guide the healthcare team's decision-making?

Accepted Answer

Respect for patient autonomy

Answer

The duty to preserve life overrides patient preferences

Answer

The Hippocratic Oath dictates prolonging life at all costs

Question 11

A healthcare professional discovers a patient has a serious but treatable illness. The patient has not yet been informed of this diagnosis. What should the healthcare professional do first?

Accepted Answer

Inform the patient about their diagnosis

Answer

Ignore the diagnosis and hope for the best

Answer

Withhold the diagnosis until the patient's condition deteriorates

Answer

Seek advice from a senior colleague without informing the patient

Question 12

A nurse observes a colleague falsifying patient records. What is the nurse's ethical obligation?

Accepted Answer

Report the colleague to the appropriate supervisor

Answer

Ignore the incident and hope it doesn't happen again

Answer

Confront the colleague directly without involving anyone else

Answer

Write an anonymous letter to the hospital administration

Question 13

Which of the following is a benefit of using ethical decision-making frameworks?

Accepted Answer

Promoting consistency in decision-making

Answer

Guaranteeing the ethically correct decision will always be made

Answer

Speeding up the decision-making process

Answer

Eliminating the need for personal judgment

Question 14

A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. What is the appropriate action for the healthcare team?

Accepted Answer

Respect the patient's wishes

Answer

Try to convince the patient to change their religious beliefs

Answer

Delay the transfusion until the patient's condition becomes life-threatening

Answer

Override the patient's wishes and provide the transfusion

Question 15

Which ethical issue arises from the increasing use of artificial intelligence in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

Potential for bias and discrimination

Answer

Limited availability of training data

Answer

Complexity of algorithms and interpretability

Answer

High cost of implementation and maintenance

Question 16

In a research study involving sensitive personal information, what is the healthcare professional's paramount ethical obligation?

Accepted Answer

Protecting the confidentiality of research participants

Answer

Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of collected data

Answer

Completing the research study within the planned timeline

Answer

Ensuring the research is published in a reputable medical journal

Question 17

Which of the following is central to understanding ethical dilemmas in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

Balancing the patient's autonomy with the duty to protect

Answer

Following hospital protocols without question

Answer

Obtaining informed consent before any treatment or procedure

Question 18

Which action constitutes a breach of patient confidentiality?

Accepted Answer

Sharing a patient's medical information with someone without their explicit consent

Answer

Using patient data for research purposes while maintaining anonymity

Answer

Discussing a patient's case with colleagues involved in their care

Question 19

When considering end-of-life care decisions, which factor should hold the utmost importance?

Accepted Answer

The patient's wishes, beliefs, and values

Answer

The healthcare team's recommendations

Answer

The financial implications and resource allocation

Answer

The opinions of the patient's family and loved ones

Question 20

Which approach can be helpful in resolving ethical dilemmas faced in healthcare settings?

Accepted Answer

Consulting with colleagues, ethics committees, or external experts

Answer

Ignoring the ethical dimensions and proceeding with the usual course of action

Answer

Relying solely on legal guidelines and regulations

Answer

Making decisions based solely on personal beliefs

Question 21

Define informed consent in the context of healthcare.

Accepted Answer

Voluntary agreement to treatment made after receiving, understanding, and considering all relevant information.

Answer

Agreement to treatment without understanding the risks and benefits

Answer

Consent obtained without providing sufficient information

Question 22

In ethical decision-making, the initial step involves:

Accepted Answer

Identifying and understanding the ethical principles involved

Answer

Making a decision based on personal beliefs

Answer

Ignoring the dilemma and hoping it resolves

Answer

Consulting with superiors without further analysis

Question 23

Which ethical principle outlines the patient's right to self-determination in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Non-maleficence

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Confidentiality

Question 24

A healthcare professional's ethical obligation revolves around:

Accepted Answer

Acting in the best interests of the patient

Answer

Prioritizing their interests above all

Answer

Disclosing all patient information regardless of potential consequences

Answer

Unquestioningly following superiors' instructions

Question 25

Which action represents a conflict of interest in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

Prescribing medication in which the doctor has a financial investment

Answer

Declining to treat a patient due to personal dislike

Answer

Referring a patient to a specialist known personally

Question 26

Which body is responsible for establishing ethical standards for doctors in the United Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

General Medical Council (GMC)

Answer

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

Answer

British Medical Association (BMA)

Answer

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

Question 27

Which approach is appropriate for resolving ethical dilemmas in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

Consulting with peers and seeking external guidance

Answer

Deferring to the highest-ranking person present

Answer

Relying exclusively on personal values

Answer

Ignoring the dilemma and hoping it disappears