Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real CO 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
An orthotist discovers that a colleague has been billing Medicare for custom devices but providing prefabricated ones. What is the MOST appropriate first action?
Answer: Report the conduct to the appropriate compliance officer or regulatory body
Fraudulent billing is a serious ethical and legal violation that must be reported to a compliance officer or regulatory authority.
Which principle requires an orthotist to act in the patient's best interest even when it conflicts with the orthotist's financial gain?
Answer: Beneficence
Beneficence obligates practitioners to prioritize patient welfare above personal or financial interests.
A patient requests a copy of their orthotic fitting records to share with another provider. Under HIPAA, the orthotist must:
Answer: Provide the records within a reasonable timeframe as required by law
HIPAA grants patients the right to access and receive copies of their own health records in a timely manner.
An orthotist is offered a significant gift by a vendor in exchange for exclusively prescribing their products. Accepting this gift would violate which standard?
Answer: Conflict of interest and professional independence
Accepting gifts that influence product selection creates a conflict of interest and compromises clinical objectivity.
When providing care to a minor patient, who holds primary decision-making authority for consent?
Answer: The parent or legal guardian
Parents or legal guardians are legally authorized to provide informed consent for medical treatment of minor children.
A certified orthotist supervises a non-certified orthotic fitter. If the fitter makes an error resulting in patient harm, who bears professional responsibility?
Answer: The supervising orthotist shares responsibility for the supervised staff's actions
The supervising practitioner shares professional and ethical responsibility for the outcomes of those they supervise.
Which of the following best describes the ethical obligation of veracity in orthotics practice?
Answer: Being truthful with patients about diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options
Veracity is the duty to be honest with patients so they can make informed decisions about their care.