Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real AP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics & Professional Standards flashcards as text
A practitioner discovers their malpractice insurance has lapsed. The ethical and legal obligation is to:
Answer: Cease patient care until coverage is reinstated and notify the licensing board if required by state law
Practicing without required malpractice insurance is an ethical violation and may violate state law; care must be paused until coverage is reinstated.
Which best describes 'therapeutic privilege' and why it is generally rejected in modern medical ethics?
Answer: Withholding information from a patient to prevent distress—rejected because it undermines patient autonomy
Therapeutic privilege refers to withholding information to avoid upsetting a patient, but this paternalistic practice is rejected because it denies patients the right to make informed decisions.
A patient expresses romantic interest in their acupuncture physician during treatment. The practitioner's most ethical response is to:
Answer: Set a clear professional boundary, decline the advance, and document the interaction
Maintaining clear professional boundaries requires explicitly declining romantic overtures, reinforcing the therapeutic nature of the relationship, and documenting the interaction.
An acupuncture physician is asked by an employer to falsify treatment records to support an insurance claim. The practitioner should:
Answer: Refuse, as falsifying records constitutes fraud and violates professional ethics and federal law
Falsifying medical records is healthcare fraud, a federal crime, and a serious violation of professional ethics that can result in license revocation.
Continuing education (CE) requirements for acupuncture license renewal primarily serve to:
Answer: Ensure practitioners maintain current competency and incorporate advances in the field
CE requirements protect public safety by ensuring practitioners remain current with evolving evidence, techniques, and regulatory standards throughout their careers.
A patient who is a Jehovah's Witness declines a recommended herbal formula because it conflicts with their beliefs. The practitioner's ethical response is to:
Answer: Respect the refusal, document it, and explore alternative treatment options consistent with the patient's values
Patient autonomy includes the right to refuse treatment for religious or personal reasons; practitioners must document refusals and offer alternatives.
The primary purpose of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) code of ethics is to:
Answer: Establish professional standards that protect the public and guide ethical practitioner conduct
The NCCAOM code of ethics sets the professional conduct standards that ensure public safety and maintain the integrity of the acupuncture profession.