NHI Medical Law and Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient refuses a blood transfusion for religious reasons. The healthcare provider should:
- Administer the transfusion if life-threatening
- Respect the refusal and document it (Correct answer)
- Contact the patient's family to override the decision
- Seek a court order immediately
Correct answer: Respect the refusal and document it
Competent adults have the legal right to refuse any treatment, including life-saving procedures, and this must be respected and documented.
Question 2: Which federal law governs the privacy of individually identifiable health information?
- OSHA
- HIPAA (Correct answer)
- ADA
- COBRA
Correct answer: HIPAA
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) establishes national standards for protecting individually identifiable health information.
Question 3: An advance directive that designates someone to make healthcare decisions is called a:
- Living will
- Do Not Resuscitate order
- Durable power of attorney for healthcare (Correct answer)
- Informed consent form
Correct answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare designates a specific person (healthcare proxy) to make medical decisions if the patient becomes incapacitated.
Question 4: The ethical principle of justice in healthcare primarily refers to:
- Treating all patients with honesty
- Fair distribution of healthcare resources (Correct answer)
- Preventing harm to patients
- Respecting patient autonomy
Correct answer: Fair distribution of healthcare resources
Justice in healthcare ethics refers to the fair, equitable, and appropriate distribution of healthcare resources and treatment among patients.
Question 5: A healthcare worker who suspects child abuse is legally required to:
- Consult with the child's parents first
- Document and report to the appropriate authorities (Correct answer)
- Wait for a physician's confirmation before reporting
- Keep the information confidential per HIPAA
Correct answer: Document and report to the appropriate authorities
Healthcare workers are mandatory reporters and must report suspected child abuse to appropriate authorities regardless of parental consent or physician confirmation.
Question 6: The statute of limitations in medical malpractice cases refers to:
- The maximum financial award a patient can receive
- The time period within which a lawsuit must be filed (Correct answer)
- The number of expert witnesses required in a case
- The standard of care expected of healthcare providers
Correct answer: The time period within which a lawsuit must be filed
The statute of limitations is the legally defined time window after an injury occurs during which a patient can file a malpractice lawsuit.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes respondeat superior?
- A patient's right to review medical records
- An employer's liability for employee actions performed within the scope of employment (Correct answer)
- A physician's duty to obtain informed consent
- A hospital's obligation to maintain sterile conditions
Correct answer: An employer's liability for employee actions performed within the scope of employment
Respondeat superior is a legal doctrine holding employers vicariously liable for negligent acts of employees committed within the scope of their employment.
NHI Medical Law and Ethics 2
A patient refuses a blood transfusion for religious reasons.
The healthcare provider should: