ATI LPN
Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare Questions
Question 1 of 5
The prosecution and defence in the trial of Andrea Yates agreed
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Both sides agreed Yates committed the act, but disputed her mental state, making C the agreed fact.
Question 2 of 5
You are a resident in the emergency department. An irate parent comes to you furious because the social worker has been asking him about striking his child. The child is a 5-year-old boy who has been in the emergency department four times this year with several episodes of trauma that did not seem related. Today, the child is brought in with a child complaint of 'slipping into a hot bathtub' with a burn wound on his legs. The parent threatens to sue you and says 'How dare you think that about me? I love my son!' What should you do?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Reporting of child abuse is mandatory even based on suspicion alone. Although it is frightening to be confrontational with the family, the caregiver is legally protected even if there turns out to be no abuse as long as the report was made honestly and without malice. You do not have the authority to remove the child from the custody of the parents. Only child protective services or the courts can do that. The police are not appropriate to investigate child abuse unless an assault is happening at that moment.
Question 3 of 5
You have a patient with severe multiple sclerosis that is advanced and progressive who now develops renal failure secondary to diabetes. The patient is alert and has elected to put the DNR (Do-Not-Resuscitate) order in place at her own discretion. The patient's potassium level is now markedly elevated at $8 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$. Which of the following is the most appropriate management of this patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A DNR order specifically applies to cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts and does not impact other treatments like dialysis. Hyperkalemia is life-threatening and dialysis is indicated regardless of the DNR status.
Question 4 of 5
An 87-year-old man comes to see you for follow-up to a minor concussion sustained a few weeks ago. He was in a minor motor vehicle accident in which his head hit the dashboard but he did not lose consciousness. Your patient has glaucoma and presbycusis. He renewed his driver's license by mail two years ago and the only restriction is that he must wear glasses. You are uncertain whether the patient should be driving. What should you do?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: There's no universal law mandating reporting impaired drivers; thus, discussing with the patient and encouraging alternatives is the best approach.
Question 5 of 5
A 27-year-old pregnant woman presents in her last trimester of pregnancy with severe cephalopelvic disproportion. Her physicians have recommended a caesarian section. She does not want to undergo the surgery. She fully understands the procedure and she is unwilling to suffer the discomfort of surgery. She has been informed that without the C-section her fetus may not survive childbirth. What should you do?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A competent adult has the right to refuse treatment, even if it affects the fetus, as the fetus lacks independent legal rights until birth.