Medical Law and Ethics Flashcards

A patient requests that their medical records not be shared with their adult children. Under HIPAA, the medical office must:

Answer: Honor the patient's request and restrict disclosure to the adult children

HIPAA grants competent adult patients the right to restrict who receives their health information, including family members.

Which legal doctrine holds that a physician is responsible for the negligent actions of employees working under their supervision?

Answer: Respondeat superior

Respondeat superior ('let the master answer') makes employers liable for employees' negligent acts performed within the scope of employment.

A medical administrative assistant discovers a coworker accessing patient records without a legitimate work reason. The BEST first action is to:

Answer: Report the incident to the privacy officer or supervisor

Unauthorized access to patient records is a HIPAA violation that must be reported to the designated privacy officer or supervisor promptly.

Which type of consent is implied when a patient extends their arm for a routine blood draw without verbal agreement?

Answer: Implied consent

Implied consent is inferred from a patient's actions or conduct, such as extending an arm for a blood draw.

The ethical principle of 'nonmaleficence' in healthcare means:

Answer: Doing no harm to the patient

Nonmaleficence is the duty to avoid causing harm, summarized by the phrase 'first, do no harm.'

A patient who is a minor arrives alone for a routine physical. Under most state laws, parental consent is NOT required when:

Answer: The minor is emancipated

Emancipated minors are legally recognized as adults and can consent to their own medical treatment without parental involvement.

Which document outlines a patient's wishes regarding end-of-life care in the event they become incapacitated?

Answer: A living will

A living will is an advance directive that specifies a patient's wishes for medical treatment if they are unable to communicate.