Medical Ethics & Patient Rights Flashcards
7 cards from real CHT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medical Ethics & Patient Rights flashcards as text
A patient enrolled in hyperbaric therapy asks the technician to keep certain clinical information from family members present at appointments. The technician should:
Answer: Honor the patient's right to privacy and restrict family access accordingly
Competent patients have the right to control who receives their health information, and technicians must honor this privacy preference.
Which statement BEST reflects the principle of beneficence in the context of hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Answer: Technicians should actively promote the patient's best interest and well-being through safe, effective care
Beneficence obligates healthcare providers to act in the patient's best interest by delivering care that maximizes benefit and minimizes harm.
A fellow hyperbaric technician confides they have been coming to work impaired by alcohol. What is the most ethical response?
Answer: Encourage the colleague to self-report and report to the supervisor if they do not
Impairment poses direct patient safety risk; the technician must encourage self-reporting and escalate if that does not occur to protect patients.
A Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order is in place for a patient undergoing HBO therapy. During treatment, the patient experiences cardiac arrest. What should the technician do?
Answer: Follow the DNR order, provide comfort care, and notify the physician immediately
A valid DNR order applies in all clinical settings including HBO chambers and must be honored; the technician should provide comfort measures and notify the physician.
What distinguishes an ethical dilemma from a simple ethical issue in hyperbaric practice?
Answer: An ethical dilemma involves a conflict between two or more equally valid ethical principles or obligations
An ethical dilemma arises when two or more valid moral principles conflict, making the 'right' course of action genuinely uncertain.
A patient who speaks limited English arrives for HBO therapy. Which approach BEST protects their rights and ensures informed consent?
Answer: Use a qualified medical interpreter and provide translated consent materials
Qualified medical interpreters and translated materials are required to ensure language access and valid informed consent for patients with limited English proficiency.
In hyperbaric medicine, the concept of 'therapeutic privilege' — withholding information to avoid upsetting a patient — is generally considered:
Answer: Ethically problematic because it undermines patient autonomy and informed decision-making
Therapeutic privilege is widely rejected in modern medical ethics because withholding material information violates patient autonomy and the right to informed consent.