ATI LPN
Ethics and Legal Issues in Healthcare Questions
Question 1 of 5
When participants in research studies are told about the potential risks and are free to choose whether or not to be involved, it is called
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Informed consent ensures participants understand risks and voluntarily agree, a cornerstone of ethical research.
Question 2 of 5
Besides informational, physical, decisional, and proprietary privacy, Beauchamp and Childress propose the following kind of privacy as important in medical ethics:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Confidentiality is emphasized as a critical aspect of privacy in medical ethics, ensuring sensitive information remains protected.
Question 3 of 5
You are seeing patients in clinic when two men in dark suits and dark glasses come in and show you badges marking them as members of a federal law enforcement agency. The identification is legitimate. These 'men in black' inform you that they are making a 'minor investigation' of one of your patients. They ask to look at the patient's chart for a few minutes, saying, 'You wouldn't want to interfere with a federal investigation, would you?' What should you do?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: You cannot release a patient's medical records unless there is a clear, signed release from the patient or a court order. This is true no matter who is asking. If the federal agents have a court order, then they have a right to the information. The information is the property of the patient.
Question 4 of 5
You have a patient with a strong family history of breast cancer. As a matter of the patient's request, you perform a BRCA genetic test to see if there is an increased risk for breast cancer. The patient's employer is requesting a copy of any genetic testing that may have been done. What should you do?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The employer has no right to the patient's genetic information unless it directly impacts job performance or safety, which it does not in this case. Patient confidentiality must be maintained.
Question 5 of 5
A 67-year-old woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. She is fully alert and very specifically both verbally and in writing tells you that she does not want to have surgery on her breast to remove the tumor. She fully understands her condition and treatment options. This is a decision her husband and son both disagree with. Over the next several weeks the patient becomes confused and loses the capacity to understand the details of her medical care. The husband and son now approach you to perform the surgery. Which of the following is most appropriate?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A clear advance directive from a competent patient must be followed, regardless of family wishes, unless overridden by a court.