Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Practice US Medical PG questions for Ethics committees and consultations. These multiple choice questions (MCQs) cover important concepts and help you prepare for your exams.
Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Question 1: A 5-year-old child is brought to the emergency department after being hit by a motor vehicle on the way to school. According to paramedics, the child's right leg was severely crushed in the accident. After evaluation, the physician recommends immediate limb-saving surgery to preserve the leg and prevent complications. However, the parents refuse to consent to the surgery. They explain that they heard about a similar case where a child died after limb-saving surgery, and they believe the procedure might lead to amputation or death. Despite the physician's explanation that the surgery is intended to save the limb, the parents remain adamant in their refusal. What is the next best step?
- A. Contact the next of kin
- B. Ask for a court order
- C. Take into account the child’s wishes
- D. Take the parents' wishes into account
- E. Inform the hospital Ethics Committee, state authority, and child protective services, and obtain a court order to proceed with treatment (Correct Answer)
Ethics committees and consultations Explanation: ***Inform the hospital Ethics Committee, state authority, and child protective services, and obtain a court order to proceed with treatment***
- When parents refuse **life-saving or limb-saving treatment** for a child, and the medical team believes the treatment is in the child's best interest, the case becomes a legal and ethical concern requiring immediate institutional and legal intervention.
- The appropriate response involves **multiple parallel actions**: contacting the hospital **Ethics Committee** for guidance, notifying **Child Protective Services (CPS)** for suspected medical neglect, and seeking a **court order** to authorize treatment.
- This comprehensive approach protects the child's welfare while respecting legal procedures. **Medical neglect** constitutes a form of child abuse, and the state has parens patriae authority to protect minor citizens when parents' decisions threaten serious harm.
- In true life-threatening emergencies where delay would cause death or serious harm, physicians may proceed under emergency doctrine, but for urgent situations allowing time for legal process, a court order should be obtained.
*Contact the next of kin*
- While contacting other family members might provide support or alternative perspectives, it does not address the immediate legal and ethical obligations when parents refuse medically necessary care.
- The parents are the legal guardians, and their refusal necessitates formal institutional and legal intervention rather than informal family consultation.
*Ask for a court order*
- While obtaining a **court order** is essential when parental consent is refused for necessary treatment, this option alone is incomplete.
- The most appropriate immediate response involves the **comprehensive institutional approach**: simultaneously engaging the Ethics Committee for guidance, notifying CPS for child protection, and initiating the legal process for court authorization.
- This multi-pronged approach ensures all stakeholders are involved and the child's interests are protected through proper channels.
*Take into account the child's wishes*
- A 5-year-old child lacks the **developmental capacity and legal standing** for informed consent regarding complex medical procedures.
- While assent from older minors (typically 7+ years) may be considered for less critical decisions, a 5-year-old's wishes regarding limb-saving surgery are not determinative.
- The focus must remain on the child's **best medical interest** as determined by medical professionals and legal frameworks, not the child's limited understanding at this developmental stage.
*Take the parents' wishes into account*
- While parental autonomy in medical decision-making is generally respected, this principle has limits when parental decisions would result in **significant harm, neglect, or death** to the child.
- When parents refuse **medically indicated, life-saving, or limb-saving treatment**, their decision can and should be legally challenged through appropriate institutional and judicial channels to protect the child's welfare.
- The state's interest in protecting children overrides parental preferences when those preferences threaten serious harm.
Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Question 2: An 83-year-old man presents to the gastroenterologist to follow-up on results from a biopsy of a pancreatic head mass, which the clinician was concerned could be pancreatic cancer. After welcoming the patient and his wife to the clinic, the physician begins to discuss the testing and leads into delivering the results, which showed metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Before she is able to disclose these findings, the patient stops her and exclaims, "Whatever it is, I don't want to know. Please just make me comfortable in my last months alive. I have made up my mind about this." Which of the following is the most appropriate response on the part of the physician?
- A. "If that is your definite wish, then I must honor it" (Correct Answer)
- B. "The cancer has spread to your liver"
- C. "As a physician, I am obligated to disclose these results to you"
- D. "If you don't know what condition you have, I will be unable to be your physician going forward"
- E. "Please, sir, I strongly urge you to reconsider your decision"
Ethics committees and consultations Explanation: ***"If that is your definite wish, then I must honor it"***
- This response respects the patient's **autonomy** and right to refuse information, aligning with ethical principles of patient-centered care.
- The patient has clearly and articulately stated his desire not to know and wishes for **palliative care**, which the physician should respect.
- The patient appears to have **decision-making capacity** based on his clear communication of wishes.
*"The cancer has spread to your liver"*
- This statement violates the patient's explicit request not to be informed of his diagnosis, potentially causing distress and undermining trust.
- Disclosure of information against a patient's wishes is unethical when the patient has **decision-making capacity** and has clearly refused information.
*"As a physician, I am obligated to disclose these results to you"*
- While physicians have a general duty to inform, this is superseded by a **competent patient's right to refuse information**.
- No absolute obligation exists to force information upon a patient who explicitly states a desire not to know, especially when it concerns their own health information.
*"If you don't know what condition you have, I will be unable to be your physician going forward"*
- This response is coercive and threatening, attempting to strong-arm the patient into accepting information he has refused.
- A physician's role includes managing symptoms and providing comfort, even if the patient chooses not to know the full diagnostic details of their condition, particularly in a **palliative care** context.
- This statement could constitute **patient abandonment**, which is unethical.
*"Please, sir, I strongly urge you to reconsider your decision"*
- While it's acceptable to ensure the patient fully understands the implications of their decision, a forceful "urge to reconsider" after a clear refusal can be seen as undermining their **autonomy**.
- The physician should confirm the patient's understanding and offer an opportunity to discuss it later if desired, rather than immediately pressuring them.
Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Question 3: A 29-year-old man is admitted to the emergency department following a motorcycle accident. The patient is severely injured and requires life support after splenectomy and evacuation of a subdural hematoma. Past medical history is unremarkable. The patient’s family members, including wife, parents, siblings, and grandparents, are informed about the patient’s condition. The patient has no living will and there is no durable power of attorney. The patient must be put in an induced coma for an undetermined period of time. Which of the following is responsible for making medical decisions for the incapacitated patient?
- A. The spouse (Correct Answer)
- B. An older sibling
- C. Physician
- D. Legal guardian
- E. The parents
Ethics committees and consultations Explanation: ***The spouse***
- In the absence of a **living will** or **durable power of attorney**, the law typically designates the **spouse** as the primary decision-maker for an incapacitated patient.
- This hierarchy is established to ensure decisions are made by the individual most intimately connected and presumed to understand the patient's wishes.
*An older sibling*
- Siblings are generally further down the **hierarchy of surrogate decision-makers** than a spouse or parents.
- They would typically only be considered if higher-priority family members are unavailable or unwilling to make decisions.
*Physician*
- The physician's role is to provide medical care and guidance, not to make medical decisions for an incapacitated patient when family surrogates are available.
- Physicians only make decisions in **emergency situations** when no surrogate is immediately available and treatment is immediately necessary to save the patient's life or prevent serious harm.
*Legal guardian*
- A legal guardian is usually appointed by a **court** when there is no appropriate family member available or when there is a dispute among family members.
- In this scenario, with a spouse and other close family members present, a legal guardian would not be the first choice.
*The parents*
- While parents are close family members, they are typically considered **secondary to the spouse** in the hierarchy of surrogate decision-makers for an adult patient.
- They would usually only be the decision-makers if the patient were unmarried or the spouse were unavailable.
Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Question 4: An 87-year-old man with glioblastoma multiforme is informed that the size and location of the tumor make operative resection impossible, and he has a prognosis of between 3-6 months. The patient then asks whether it would be possible to get a prescription for lethal medications so that he would be able to end his life if his situation deteriorated further. The physician says that he is unable to prescribe such drugs because assisted suicide is not legal in their state. Refusing to help a patient commit suicide is most consistent with which of the following ethical principles?
- A. Beneficence
- B. Distributive justice
- C. Non-maleficence (Correct Answer)
- D. Autonomy
- E. Formal justice
Ethics committees and consultations Explanation: ***Non-maleficence***
- Non-maleficence is the ethical principle to **"do no harm"** to the patient, one of the four core pillars of medical ethics.
- In the context of physician-assisted suicide, refusing to prescribe lethal medications is **most directly grounded** in the principle of not causing harm or death to the patient, even when requested.
- While legal constraints exist, the **underlying ethical rationale** for opposition to physician-assisted suicide in traditional medical ethics is that actively ending a patient's life violates the fundamental duty not to harm.
- This principle holds that the physician's role is to **preserve life and relieve suffering** through palliative care, not to cause death.
*Formal justice*
- Formal justice refers to the principle of treating **similar cases in a similar manner** and applying rules consistently.
- While the physician is following the law equally for all patients, formal justice is more about **procedural fairness** than the substantive ethical principle underlying the refusal to end life.
- This principle is relevant but is **not the primary ethical foundation** for opposing physician-assisted suicide.
*Beneficence*
- Beneficence is the ethical principle of acting in the **best interest of the patient** and promoting their well-being.
- While some might argue that respecting the patient's wish could be beneficent, traditional medical ethics views **preserving life** and providing comfort care as beneficent, rather than facilitating death.
- This principle could be invoked on either side of the debate but is **less specific** than non-maleficence in this context.
*Autonomy*
- Autonomy is the principle of respecting a patient's right to make **decisions about their own medical care**.
- While the patient is expressing an autonomous wish, the physician's refusal demonstrates that autonomy has **limits when it conflicts** with other ethical principles (non-maleficence) and legal constraints.
- This scenario represents a tension between autonomy and other ethical duties.
*Distributive justice*
- Distributive justice concerns the **fair allocation of resources** and burdens within society.
- This principle is generally applied to situations involving healthcare access, resource scarcity, or equitable treatment for groups of people, and is **not directly relevant** to an individual physician's decision regarding assisted suicide.
Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Question 5: A psychiatrist receives a call from a patient who expresses thoughts of harming his ex-girlfriend. The patient describes a detailed plan to attack her at her workplace. Which of the following represents the psychiatrist's most appropriate legal obligation?
- A. Warn the ex-girlfriend and notify law enforcement (Correct Answer)
- B. Only notify the patient's family
- C. Warn only law enforcement
- D. Maintain patient confidentiality
Ethics committees and consultations Explanation: ***Warn the ex-girlfriend and notify law enforcement***
- This scenario directly triggers the **"duty to warn"** and **"duty to protect"** principles, primarily stemming from the **Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California** case.
- The psychiatrist has a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to protect the identifiable victim, which includes directly warning the intended victim and informing law enforcement.
*Only notify the patient's family*
- Notifying the patient's family alone does not fulfill the **legal obligation to protect** an identifiable third party from a serious threat of harm.
- While family involvement might be part of a comprehensive safety plan, it is insufficient as the sole action in this critical situation.
*Warn only law enforcement*
- While notifying law enforcement is a crucial step, the **Tarasoff duty** specifically mandates warning the **intended victim** directly (or those who can reasonably be expected to notify the victim).
- Relying solely on law enforcement might not ensure the immediate safety of the ex-girlfriend, especially if there's a delay in their response or ability to locate her.
*Maintain patient confidentiality*
- Patient confidentiality is a cornerstone of psychiatric practice, but it is **not absolute** when there is a serious and imminent threat of harm to an identifiable individual.
- The **duty to protect** a potential victim *outweighs* the duty to maintain confidentiality in such extreme circumstances.
Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Question 6: A terminally ill patient with advanced cancer requests that no resuscitation be performed in the event of cardiac arrest. The patient is mentally competent and has completed advance directives. A family member later demands full resuscitation efforts. Which of the following is the most appropriate response?
- A. Honor the patient's DNR (Correct Answer)
- B. Obtain court order
- C. Follow the family's wishes
- D. Consult ethics committee
Ethics committees and consultations Explanation: ***Honor the patient's DNR***
- The patient is **mentally competent** and has legally documented their wishes through **advance directives** (DNR), which must be respected.
- A competent patient's right to **autonomy** in making decisions about their medical care takes precedence over the wishes of family members.
*Obtain court order*
- Seeking a court order is **unnecessary** and **inappropriate** when a competent patient's wishes are clearly documented in advance directives.
- This option would cause **undue delay** and legal entanglement, potentially going against the patient's immediate medical needs and preferences.
*Follow the family's wishes*
- Following the family's wishes would **override the patient's autonomy** and legally binding advance directives.
- The family's emotional distress does not negate the patient's right to determine their own medical care, especially when they are competent.
*Consult ethics committee*
- While an ethics committee can be helpful in complex cases with **unclear directives** or patient capacity issues, it's not the first step here.
- The patient's competence and clear advance directives make the decision straightforward; a committee consultation could cause delay and unnecessary burden.
Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Question 7: A 65-year-old man is admitted to the hospital because of a 1-month history of fatigue, intermittent fever, and weakness. Results from a peripheral blood smear taken during his evaluation are indicative of possible acute myeloid leukemia. Bone marrow aspiration and subsequent cytogenetic studies confirm the diagnosis. The physician sets aside an appointed time-slot and arranges a meeting in a quiet office to inform him about the diagnosis and discuss his options. He has been encouraged to bring someone along to the appointment if he wanted. He comes to your office at the appointed time with his daughter. He appears relaxed, with a full range of affect. Which of the following is the most appropriate opening statement in this situation?
- A. Your lab reports show that you have an acute myeloid leukemia
- B. What is your understanding of the reasons we did bone marrow aspiration and cytogenetic studies? (Correct Answer)
- C. You must be curious and maybe even anxious about the results of your tests.
- D. I may need to refer you to a blood cancer specialist because of your diagnosis. You may need chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which we are not equipped for.
- E. Would you like to know all the details of your diagnosis, or would you prefer I just explain to you what our options are?
Ethics committees and consultations Explanation: ***"What is your understanding of the reasons we did bone marrow aspiration and cytogenetic studies?"***
- This **open-ended question** allows the patient to express their current knowledge and perceptions, which helps the physician tailor the discussion.
- It establishes a **patient-centered approach**, respecting the patient's existing understanding and preparing them for further information.
*"You must be curious and maybe even anxious about the results of your tests."*
- While empathic, this statement makes an **assumption about the patient's feelings** rather than inviting them to share their own.
- It is often better to ask directly or use more open-ended questions that allow the patient to express their true emotions, especially given their **relaxed demeanor**.
*"I may need to refer you to a blood cancer specialist because of your diagnosis. You may need chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which we are not equipped for.”"*
- This statement immediately introduces **overwhelming and potentially alarming information** (referral, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) without first establishing the diagnosis or assessing the patient's readiness to receive it.
- It prematurely jumps to treatment and logistics, potentially causing **unnecessary distress** before the patient has processed the core diagnosis.
*"Would you like to know all the details of your diagnosis, or would you prefer I just explain to you what our options are?""*
- While it attempts to assess the patient's preference for information, this question is a **closed-ended "either/or" choice** that might limit the patient's ability to express nuanced needs.
- It also prematurely introduces the idea of "options" without first explaining the diagnosis in an understandable context.
*"Your lab reports show that you have an acute myeloid leukemia"*
- This is a **direct and blunt delivery of a serious diagnosis** without any preparatory context or assessment of the patient's existing knowledge or emotional state.
- Delivering such news abruptly can be shocking and overwhelming, potentially **hindering effective communication** and rapport building.
Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Question 8: A 73-year-old man is admitted to the hospital for jaundice and weight loss. He is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and speaks little English. A CT scan is performed showing a large mass at the head of the pancreas. When you enter the room to discuss these results with the patient, his daughter and son ask to speak with you outside of the patient's room. They express their desire to keep these results from their father. What is the appropriate response in this situation?
- A. Consult the hospital ethics committee
- B. Deliver the information in Spanish
- C. Respect the children's wishes to hold prognosis information
- D. Tell the children that you are obligated to tell the father
- E. Explore the reasoning behind the children's request (Correct Answer)
Ethics committees and consultations Explanation: ***Explore the reasoning behind the children's request***
- Understanding the family's cultural background, including beliefs about illness and communication, is crucial for navigating this sensitive situation.
- This approach allows the healthcare provider to assess whether the family's request stems from a protective desire rooted in their culture or a misunderstanding, which can inform the next steps.
*Consult the hospital ethics committee*
- While an ethics consultation may be necessary if an impasse is reached, it is not the immediate first step.
- Initial direct communication and exploration with the family are preferable to first understand the context before escalating to an ethics committee.
*Deliver the information in Spanish*
- This addresses the language barrier but does not resolve the ethical dilemma of withholding information from the patient at the family's request.
- Providing the information in Spanish without first understanding the family's wishes might violate their cultural norms or inadvertently cause distress.
*Respect the children's wishes to hold prognosis information*
- Respecting the children's wishes without understanding their rationale could violate the patient's right to **autonomy** and **informed consent**.
- In most Western medical ethics frameworks, the patient has the primary right to receive information about their health, even if it is distressing.
*Tell the children that you are obligated to tell the father*
- Immediately stating an obligation without understanding the family's perspective can come across as abrupt and culturally insensitive.
- This approach might create an adversarial dynamic, making it harder to build trust and find a mutually agreeable solution.
Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Question 9: A 12-year-old boy and his mother are brought to the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident. The boy was an unrestrained passenger in a head-on collision and was ejected from the front seat. The patient's mother was the driver and she is currently being resuscitated. Neither the child nor the mother are conscious; however, it is documented that the family are all Jehovah's witnesses and would not want a transfusion in an acute situation. The husband/father arrives to the trauma bay and confirms this wish that everyone in the family would not want a transfusion in accordance with their beliefs. The father is confirmed as the official healthcare proxy. Which of the following is the best next step in management?
- A. Consult the hospital ethics committee
- B. Do not transfuse the boy or the mother
- C. Do not transfuse the mother and transfuse the boy (Correct Answer)
- D. Do not transfuse the boy and transfuse the mother
- E. Transfuse the boy and mother
Ethics committees and consultations Explanation: ***Do not transfuse the mother and transfuse the boy***
- While the **mother's wishes** for no transfusion must be respected, the boy's status as a **minor** (12 years old) allows for medical intervention to save his life, particularly in an emergency.
- In situations where a parent's religious beliefs conflict with a minor's best interest for life-saving treatment, the **state's interest in protecting children** often overrides parental autonomy.
*Consult the hospital ethics committee*
- While an ethics consultation may be appropriate in non-emergent or complex cases, in an **acute, life-threatening emergency** for a minor, delaying treatment to consult an ethics committee could be detrimental.
- The immediate priority is to provide **life-saving treatment** to the minor.
*Do not transfuse the boy or the mother*
- Refusing transfusion for the mother is consistent with her advance directives and the father's confirmed wishes, respecting her **autonomy**.
- However, refusing transfusion for the minor boy, given his age and the life-threatening situation, would prioritize parental religious beliefs over the **child's right to life-saving care**.
*Do not transfuse the boy and transfuse the mother*
- This option incorrectly applies the principles of autonomy and best interest. The mother, as an adult, has the right to refuse care, but the **minor child's right to life-saving treatment** generally takes precedence over parental refusal in emergencies.
- Transfusing the mother against her stated wishes and confirmed by her healthcare proxy would be a violation of her **autonomy**.
*Transfuse the boy and mother*
- Transfusing the boy is generally appropriate given his minor status and life-threatening condition in an emergency.
- However, transfusing the mother against her documented wishes and the confirmed consent of her healthcare proxy would be a **violation of her autonomy and right to refuse medical treatment**.
Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG Question 10: A 68-year-old man comes to the physician for a follow-up examination, accompanied by his daughter. Two years ago, he was diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, for which he underwent radiation therapy. He moved to the area 1 month ago to be closer to his daughter but continues to live independently. He was recently diagnosed with osteoblastic metastases to the spine and is scheduled to initiate therapy next week. In private, the patient’s daughter says that he has been losing weight and wetting the bed, and she tearfully asks the physician if his prostate cancer has returned. She says that her father has not spoken with her about his health recently. The patient has previously expressed to the physician that he does not want his family members to know about his condition because they “would worry too much.” Which of the following initial statements by the physician is most appropriate?
- A. “As your father's physician, I think that it's important that you know that his prostate cancer has returned. However, we are confident that he will respond well to treatment.”
- B. “I'm sorry, I can't discuss any information with you without his permission. I recommend that you have an open discussion with your father.” (Correct Answer)
- C. “It concerns me that he's not speaking openly with you. I recommend that you seek medical power of attorney for your father. Then, we can legally discuss his diagnosis and treatment options together.”
- D. “It’s difficult to deal with parents aging, but I have experience helping families cope. We should sit down with your father and discuss this situation together.”
- E. “Your father is very ill and may not want you to know the details. I can imagine it's frustrating for you, but you have to respect his discretion.”
Ethics committees and consultations Explanation: ***“I'm sorry, I can't discuss any information with you without his permission. I recommend that you have an open discussion with your father.”***
- This statement upholds **patient confidentiality** and **autonomy**, as the patient explicitly stated he did not want his family to know about his condition.
- It encourages communication between the patient and his daughter, which is the most appropriate way for her to learn about his health status.
*“As your father's physician, I think that it's important that you know that his prostate cancer has returned. However, we are confident that he will respond well to treatment.”*
- This violates the patient's **confidentiality** and explicit wish to keep his medical information private from his family.
- Sharing medical information without explicit consent, even with family, is a breach of ethical and legal guidelines (e.g., **HIPAA** in the United States).
*“It concerns me that he's not speaking openly with you. I recommend that you seek medical power of attorney for your father. Then, we can legally discuss his diagnosis and treatment options together.”*
- While seeking medical power of attorney is an option for future decision-making, it is **premature and inappropriate** to suggest it solely to bypass the patient's current desire for confidentiality, especially when he is still competent to make his own decisions.
- This suggestion could undermine the patient's autonomy and trust in his physician.
*“It’s difficult to deal with parents aging, but I have experience helping families cope. We should sit down with your father and discuss this situation together.”*
- This statement, while empathetic, still risks undermining the patient's **autonomy** by pushing for a joint discussion against his explicit wishes to keep his family unaware.
- The physician's primary obligation is to the patient's stated preferences regarding his medical information.
*“Your father is very ill and may not want you to know the details. I can imagine it's frustrating for you, but you have to respect his discretion.”*
- While this statement acknowledges the daughter's feelings and respects the patient's discretion, it uses a somewhat **judgmental tone** ("very ill") and the phrasing "you have to respect his discretion" can come across as abrupt or dismissive rather than purely informative or guiding.
- The most appropriate initial response should focus on the **physician's inability to share information** due to confidentiality rather than attributing motives to the patient's decision or explicitly telling the daughter how to feel.
More Ethics committees and consultations US Medical PG questions available in the OnCourse app. Practice MCQs, flashcards, and get detailed explanations.
