ATI LPN
Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare Questions
Question 1 of 5
A man arrives at the emergency department on a ventilator after an accident. He is brain dead by all criteria. He has an organ-donor card in his wallet indicating his desire to donate. The organ-donor team contacts the family. The family refuses to sign consent for the donation. What should be done?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Although the organ-donor card indicates the patient's wish to donate, it is still unacceptable to harvest organs against the direct wish of the family. The card is an indication of intent but not fully binding.
Question 2 of 5
Mr. Sakiewiec is a 32-year-old man with severe mental retardation who has been institutionalized since childhood. He is noncommunicative and has never been able to verbalize his preferences on any decision. His parents are dead and the institution and a court-appointed guardian manages him. He has developed leukemia that is severe and incurable. Chemotherapy involves significant risk and discomfort and only a small chance of prolonging his survival. What should be done in terms of his medical treatment?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: For a never-competent patient, the guardian decides based on the patient's best interests, as no prior wishes can be determined.
Question 3 of 5
The neighbor of a 14-year-old boy brings him to the emergency department after sustaining a slight laceration to the scalp from head trauma. You evaluate him and determine that suturing of the scalp will be necessary. Which of the following is the most accurate?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: For non-emergency procedures, minors require parental consent unless emancipated.
Question 4 of 5
A 3-month-old has been admitted to the hospital with a newly diagnosed ventricular septal defect. She is in early congestive heart failure and digoxin is indicated. After discussing the proper dose with the attending physician, you write an order for the drug. Thirty minutes later the baby vomits and then has a cardiac arrest and dies. You discover that in writing the digoxin order you misplaced the decimal point and the child got 10 times too much digoxin. What is your duty here?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Honesty and an apology are owed to the family for such a serious error, regardless of potential legal consequences.
Question 5 of 5
An 80-year-old Asian woman is hospitalized with weight loss, generalized weakness, and a pulmonary mass. Work-up reveals that she has pulmonary tuberculosis. Her family approaches the physician and asks that the patient not be told, stating that in her upbringing in mainland China tuberculosis was considered fatal and to tell her would be like giving her 'a death sentence.' Should you respect the family's concerns?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tuberculosis is reportable, and the patient must be informed to consent to treatment, despite family concerns.