Professional Practice & Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real STP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Practice & Ethics flashcards as text
A trainee scientist discovers that their supervisor has been falsifying data. What is the most appropriate first action?
Answer: Raise the concern through the institution's research misconduct procedures
Suspected research misconduct should be raised through the institution's formal procedures, which protect whistleblowers and ensure proper investigation.
What does the Caldicott Principles primarily govern in the NHS and healthcare research context?
Answer: Protection and use of patient-identifiable information
The Caldicott Principles set out requirements for the appropriate handling, protection, and use of patient-identifiable information.
A scientist publishes the same study in two different journals without disclosing prior publication. This is known as:
Answer: Duplicate publication
Duplicate publication is submitting the same work to multiple journals without disclosure and is considered a form of research misconduct.
Under GDPR, which legal basis is most commonly used for processing health data in clinical research in the UK?
Answer: Explicit consent or public task with appropriate safeguards
Health research typically relies on explicit consent or the public task basis, combined with Article 9(2)(j) special category provisions and appropriate safeguards.
When is it ethically acceptable to conduct research without obtaining informed consent from participants?
Answer: In limited circumstances such as emergency research where consent is impossible and an ethics committee has approved a waiver
Consent waivers may be approved by ethics committees in narrow circumstances, such as emergency research where obtaining consent is impossible and safeguards are in place.
The 'CPD cycle' in a healthcare scientist's professional development typically involves:
Answer: Reflecting on practice, planning learning, acting on the plan, and evaluating the impact
The CPD cycle is a continuous process of reflection, planning, action, and evaluation to maintain and develop professional competence.
A scientist's research is funded by a pharmaceutical company. How should this be disclosed?
Answer: In all publications, presentations, and grant applications related to the funded work
Funding sources must be disclosed in all outputs related to the funded work to allow readers to assess potential bias.