Medical Ethics & Professionalism Flashcards
6 cards from real DHA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Medical Ethics & Professionalism flashcards as text
A terminally ill cancer patient with capacity asks that no resuscitation be attempted if they have a cardiac arrest. The appropriate documentation for this is:
Answer: A Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order signed by the physician after discussion with patient and documented in the medical record
A DNR order must be formally documented by a physician in the medical record following a discussion with the capacitated patient. The order should reflect the patient's informed decision, the clinical context, and be clearly communicated to all treating teams.
A physician suspects a colleague is sexually harassing patients. What is the appropriate professional response under DHA regulations?
Answer: Report to hospital administration and DHA, ensuring patient safety and investigation
Sexual misconduct by a healthcare professional is a serious violation requiring immediate reporting to hospital administration and the DHA regulatory authority. Protecting patients from harm takes precedence over collegial loyalty. Failure to report may itself constitute a professional conduct violation.
A physician's patient asks for a copy of their medical records. Under UAE law and DHA Patient Rights Charter, how long does the facility have to provide access to these records?
Answer: Within a reasonable time, with potential administrative fee; UAE law gives patients the right to access their records
UAE law and DHA Patient Rights Charter guarantee patients the right to access their medical records. Facilities must respond within a reasonable timeframe. An administrative fee for copying may apply but access cannot be unreasonably denied. Information harmful to the patient's well-being may require careful handling but cannot be routinely withheld.
In the informed consent process, which of the following elements is NOT required for consent to be legally and ethically valid?
Answer: The patient must be a UAE national or permanent resident
Valid informed consent requires: capacity, information (risks/benefits/alternatives), and voluntariness. Nationality or residency status is irrelevant to the validity of consent. DHA Patient Rights Charter guarantees informed consent rights to all patients regardless of nationality, in a language they understand.
An elderly patient with moderate dementia is admitted for surgery. Their adult daughter (not a legal guardian) insists on consenting on her parent's behalf and requests 'everything possible' be done. What is the correct approach?
Answer: Assess the patient's residual decision-making capacity first; if lacking, follow legal guardianship/proxy consent hierarchy per UAE law
Before assuming incapacity, always assess the patient's current decision-making capacity — dementia does not automatically mean incapacity for all decisions. If the patient lacks capacity, proxy consent follows the legal hierarchy: court-appointed guardian > family member per UAE law. The surrogate must act in the patient's best interest, not on personal preferences.
In the context of resource allocation in healthcare, which ethical principle guides decisions about fair distribution of scarce resources (e.g., ICU beds during a pandemic)?
Answer: Justice — fair distribution based on established allocation criteria including clinical need, benefit, and equity
The principle of justice governs fair allocation of scarce resources. During crises, allocation frameworks typically consider clinical benefit (likelihood of survival), urgency of need, and equity (avoiding discrimination). Justice requires transparent, consistent criteria applied equally to all patients.