ATI LPN
Final Exam Legal and Ethical Aspects in Healthcare Quizlet Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 34-year-old man is brought to the emergency department with fever, headache, and a change in mental status leading to significant disorientation. His head CT is normal and he is in need of an urgent lumbar puncture and intravenous antibiotics. He is agitated and is waving off anyone who tries to get near him. Co-workers accompany him. The resident informs you that the patient is pushing away the lumbar puncture needle. What should you do?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In an urgent, life-threatening situation where the patient lacks capacity and no proxy is available, treatment can proceed in the patient's best interest.
Question 2 of 5
An 18-month-old child presents to the clinic with a runny nose. Since she is otherwise well, the immunizations due at 18 months are administered. After she and her mother leave the clinic, you realize that the patient was in the clinic the week before and had also received immunizations then. Should you tell the parents about your mistake?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Honesty about errors, even minor ones, maintains trust and is ethically required.
Question 3 of 5
A 65-year-old man comes to his physicians with complaints of abdominal pain that is persistent but not extreme. Workup reveals that he has metastatic cancer of the pancreas. The man has just retired from a busy professional career, and he and his wife of 40 years are about to leave on a round-the-world cruise that they've been planning for over a year. Should you tell him his diagnosis?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients have a right to know their diagnosis promptly to make informed decisions, absent compelling evidence of harm.
Question 4 of 5
A 43-year-old patient asks the physician to examine his 75-year-old mother, who has been complaining of headaches. When the woman presents for her first appointment, she admits to having a severe, persistent headache for the past 4 weeks. She says the headache is worse in the morning and always lingers throughout the day. She usually feels nauseated but has no vomiting. Her medical history is significant for severe depression and anxiety, and her current medications include an antidepressant. A complete workup shows that she has a brain tumor, likely a glioblastoma. Both she and her son (also the physician's patient) are present at today's appointment to learn of the diagnosis. Before the physician has a chance to discuss the findings, the son steps outside the patient's room and requests that the physician not reveal the diagnosis to his mother. Which of the following is the most appropriate response?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Understanding the son's reasoning is key before deciding, as rare exceptions may apply if harm is likely.
Question 5 of 5
A middle-aged married couple brings their 10-year-old daughter to the pediatrician because 'she is too tired to play nowadays and sleeps all the time.' The parents say that their daughter becomes winded with minimal exertion. For the past 2 weeks, the girl's gums have bled when she brushes her teeth. Physical examination demonstrates pallor and hepatosplenomegaly. An extensive workup indicates that she is suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and the parents are informed that chemotherapy will be necessary. They firmly refuse to comply with this treatment plan, however, due to their belief that the side effects will be too severe and her quality of life will be poor. Despite a lengthy discussion about the benefits of treatment and the likely consequences if therapy is withheld, the parents insist on taking the girl home. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Parents cannot refuse life-saving treatment for a minor; a court order is needed to enforce chemotherapy.