Medical Law and Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real CMA 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 Law and Ethics flashcards as text
What does 'respondeat superior' mean in a medical malpractice context?
Answer: An employer can be held liable for the negligent acts of employees
Respondeat superior is a legal doctrine holding employers vicariously liable for negligent acts of employees performed within the scope of employment.
Which document designates a trusted person to make healthcare decisions if a patient becomes incapacitated?
Answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare (healthcare proxy) designates a specific individual to make medical decisions if the patient loses decision-making capacity.
A medical assistant overhears a colleague discussing a patient's HIV status in the hallway. This is a violation of:
Answer: HIPAA privacy regulations
Discussing a patient's PHI in a public area where others may overhear violates HIPAA's privacy regulations.
The Stark Law (Physician Self-Referral Law) is primarily designed to prevent:
Answer: Conflicts of interest when physicians refer patients to facilities they own
The Stark Law prohibits physicians from referring Medicare/Medicaid patients to entities in which the physician has a financial relationship, to prevent conflicts of interest.
Which ethical principle requires a healthcare provider to 'do no harm'?
Answer: Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle of 'do no harm,' obligating healthcare providers to avoid causing unnecessary injury to patients.
A patient signs a general consent form upon arrival at a clinic. This form covers:
Answer: Routine examinations and standard treatments
A general consent form covers routine care such as physical exams and standard treatments; invasive or risky procedures require separate specific informed consent.
Which of the following actions by a medical assistant would constitute battery?
Answer: Performing a procedure on a patient who has not consented
Battery is the intentional harmful or offensive touching of a patient without consent, such as performing a procedure the patient did not authorize.