CVPM Veterinary Law and Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Controlled Substances Act, which DEA schedule contains drugs with accepted medical use but the highest potential for abuse and severe dependence?
- Schedule I
- Schedule II (Correct answer)
- Schedule III
- Schedule IV
Correct answer: Schedule II
Schedule II drugs have high abuse potential with accepted medical use but may lead to severe physical or psychological dependence.
Question 2: A veterinary practice discovers an employee has been diverting controlled substances. What is the FIRST required action?
- Terminate the employee immediately
- Report to the state veterinary board
- Notify the DEA of the theft or significant loss (Correct answer)
- Contact the practice's malpractice insurer
Correct answer: Notify the DEA of the theft or significant loss
DEA regulations require reporting theft or significant loss of controlled substances to the DEA using Form 106 within one business day of discovery.
Question 3: Which legal doctrine holds a veterinary employer liable for the negligent acts of an employee performed within the scope of employment?
- Res ipsa loquitur
- Respondeat superior (Correct answer)
- Contributory negligence
- Assumption of risk
Correct answer: Respondeat superior
Respondeat superior ('let the master answer') makes employers vicariously liable for employees' negligent acts committed during the course of employment.
Question 4: A client refuses treatment for their pet on financial grounds, leaving against medical advice. What ethical obligation does the veterinary practice have?
- Withhold all records until payment
- Provide emergency stabilization only and document the AMA departure
- Require a signed waiver before releasing the animal (Correct answer)
- Report the client to animal control immediately
Correct answer: Require a signed waiver before releasing the animal
Best practice requires the client to sign an against-medical-advice form documenting the risks explained, protecting the practice legally.
Question 5: Under HIPAA's applicability to veterinary medicine, which statement is correct?
- HIPAA fully applies because veterinarians treat patients
- HIPAA does not apply to veterinary practices as they treat animals, not humans (Correct answer)
- HIPAA applies only to large veterinary corporations
- HIPAA applies when veterinary records are shared with human physicians
Correct answer: HIPAA does not apply to veterinary practices as they treat animals, not humans
HIPAA applies only to human health information; veterinary practices are not covered entities under HIPAA, though state privacy laws may still apply.
Question 6: A practice manager is asked to backdate a medical record at a client's request. This action constitutes:
- A minor administrative correction
- Fraud and potentially criminal falsification of records (Correct answer)
- An acceptable practice if the clinical facts are accurate
- A violation only if reported to the board
Correct answer: Fraud and potentially criminal falsification of records
Backdating records is fraudulent falsification, which can result in criminal charges, loss of licensure, and civil liability.
Question 7: Which federal law requires veterinary practices to post a notice about employees' rights to organize and bargain collectively?
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Occupational Safety and Health Act
- National Labor Relations Act (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act
Correct answer: National Labor Relations Act
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees' rights to organize, and the NLRB requires most private employers to post a notice of these rights.
CVPM Veterinary Law and Ethics 2
Under the Controlled Substances Act, which DEA schedule contains drugs with accepted medical use but the highest potential for abuse and severe dependence?