Medical Ethics Quiz Questions With Answers

The term "non-maleficence" in medical ethics pertains to the principle of avoiding harm or minimizing potential harm to the patient. It underscores the moral obligation of healthcare providers to not cause unnecessary harm to the patient and to act in a way that prevents harm when possible. This principle complements the principle of beneficence, which focuses on promoting the patient's well-being.

Doctors have an obligation to help individuals with disabilities because they are trained professionals who can provide medical assistance and support to improve the quality of life for those with disabilities. They also have a duty to rescue persons who are in danger because they possess the skills and knowledge to provide immediate medical attention and save lives in emergency situations. Additionally, doctors are responsible for preventing and removing harm by taking necessary precautions, providing preventive care, and treating illnesses and injuries to ensure the well-being of their patients. Therefore, all of the options mentioned - helping individuals with disabilities, rescuing persons in danger, and preventing and removing harm - are obligations that doctors must fulfill.

The correct answer is "All of the above" because honesty, kindness, and truth-telling are all considered socially valuable virtues. These virtues promote positive interactions and relationships within society. Honesty ensures trust and integrity, kindness fosters empathy and compassion, and truth-telling upholds transparency and fairness. By choosing "All of the above," it acknowledges that all three virtues have societal importance and contribute to a harmonious and ethical community.

The principle of beneficence in medical ethics emphasizes the obligation of healthcare professionals to act in the best interest of the patient, promoting their well-being and taking positive steps to prevent harm. It requires physicians and caregivers to take actions that benefit the patient, including providing appropriate treatments and interventions. While autonomy refers to respecting a patient's right to make their own decisions, non-maleficence is about avoiding harm, and justice pertains to fairness in healthcare distribution. Beneficence is specifically focused on actively doing good for the patient.

The question is asking for an exception to what is included in the Informed Consent constitution. Informed Consent is a process where individuals are provided with information about a medical procedure or treatment, and they have the right to understand the information, voluntarily agree to it, and give their consent. However, debates are not typically a part of the Informed Consent process. Debates may occur among healthcare professionals or experts, but they do not directly involve the individual giving consent.

Beneficent actions refer to actions that are taken to help prevent or remove harms or to simply improve the situation of others. These actions are aimed at promoting the well-being and welfare of others. They can include acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion towards others. By engaging in beneficent actions, individuals can contribute to creating a positive and supportive environment for others, ultimately leading to a better and improved situation for everyone involved.

The Utilitarian theory is based on the principle of maximizing overall happiness or utility. In the context of professional duties, this theory can help resolve conflicts between individual and public duties by considering the consequences of actions. It prioritizes the greater good and aims to achieve the best outcome for the majority of people involved. By weighing the potential benefits and harms, Utilitarianism provides a framework for professionals to make ethical decisions that balance their individual responsibilities with the needs of the public. Therefore, the statement is true.

Stopping a medication that is shown to be harmful aligns with the principle of non-maleficence. Non-maleficence refers to the ethical obligation to do no harm or to minimize harm to the patient. In this situation, stopping the medication is a proactive measure taken to prevent further harm to the patient, demonstrating a commitment to their well-being and safety.

Autonomy refers to the ability to think, decide, and act freely and independently, without any external constraints or interference. It emphasizes individual freedom and self-governance, allowing individuals to make their own choices and take responsibility for their actions. This concept is often associated with personal autonomy, where individuals have the right to make decisions about their own lives, and professional autonomy, where professionals have the freedom to make decisions within their field of expertise. Autonomy is an important ethical principle that promotes self-determination and respects individual rights and freedoms.

The ethical concept central to the allocation of limited organ transplants is "justice." Organ allocation decisions are complex and involve considerations of fairness and equitable distribution of a scarce resource. The principle of justice in medical ethics emphasizes the need for fair and just allocation methods to ensure that patients have an equal opportunity to receive organs based on need and medical criteria rather than factors such as socioeconomic status or privilege.

The components of medical ethics include the physician-patient relationship, physician-physician relationship, and the relationship of the physician to society. These components focus on the ethical responsibilities and obligations of healthcare professionals towards their patients, colleagues, and the broader community. The relationship of the physician to the Ministry of Health is not typically considered as one of the core components of medical ethics, as it pertains more to the administrative and regulatory aspects of healthcare rather than the ethical considerations involved in patient care and professional conduct.

The principle of justice does not necessarily require that actions be ordered by a court. While courts play a crucial role in upholding justice, they are not the only means through which justice can be achieved. The principle of justice encompasses treating people fairly, ensuring actions are consistent, accountable, and transparent, as well as respecting the law. However, the requirement for actions to be ordered by a court is not a fundamental aspect of the principle of justice.

The principle of honesty is not one of the recognized principles of medical ethics. Autonomy refers to respecting the patient's right to make decisions about their own healthcare. Beneficence emphasizes the duty of healthcare professionals to act in the best interest of the patient. Social justice focuses on the fair distribution of healthcare resources and equal access to healthcare services. However, honesty, although an important value, is not explicitly listed as a principle in medical ethics.

Confidentiality refers to the ethical principle of keeping information shared by a patient with their physician private and protected. It is an important aspect of the patient-physician relationship, ensuring that patients feel comfortable sharing sensitive information without fear of it being disclosed without their consent. Confidentiality allows patients to trust their physicians and promotes open and honest communication, enabling healthcare providers to provide appropriate and effective care.

In certain situations, it may be necessary to override the truth-telling principle for valid reasons. One such reason is when patients do not wish to know the truth, especially if the news is bad. Respecting the autonomy and emotional well-being of patients is crucial, and if they explicitly express their preference to not be informed about negative outcomes, it may be ethically justifiable to withhold the truth. This approach acknowledges the importance of patient-centered care and the individual's right to make decisions about their own healthcare.

The correct answer is "Virtue theory emphasizes the moral character of the individual." This is because virtue theory focuses on the development of moral character and the cultivation of virtues, rather than solely on the consequences of actions or whether actions are beneficial. It emphasizes the importance of developing virtuous traits such as honesty, kindness, and courage, and believes that virtuous individuals will naturally make ethical choices. This distinguishes virtue theory from other ethical theories that may prioritize the consequences of actions or the idea of what is good or beneficial.

If you do what's right regardless of who's around, it means that you have the characteristic of honesty. Honesty is the quality of being truthful, sincere, and upright in your actions and words. It shows that you have integrity and are committed to doing what is morally and ethically right, regardless of the circumstances or the people involved.

The correct answer is Autonomy Theory. Autonomy theory is not a medical ethics theory. It is a principle that emphasizes the importance of respecting an individual's right to make their own decisions regarding their healthcare. Deontological theory focuses on following moral rules and duties, virtue theory emphasizes the development of virtuous character traits, and teleological theory focuses on the consequences of actions.

The correct answer is "information about patients is increasingly stored on large electronic databases which may not be secured absolutely." This is because modern medical treatment involves a small number of medical professionals is not a practical obstacle to the practice of confidentiality. While it may limit the number of individuals who have access to patient information, it does not address the issue of secure storage of electronic data. Similarly, approved research is not a practical obstacle to confidentiality as it is conducted under strict ethical guidelines. Therefore, the only valid obstacle mentioned is the potential lack of absolute security in storing patient information on electronic databases.

Double effect in medical ethics refers to the simultaneous occurrence of two outcomes when administering a medical intervention. Beneficence is the principle that requires healthcare professionals to act in the best interest of the patient, seeking to maximize benefits and minimize harm. Non-malpractice, on the other hand, refers to the ethical duty of healthcare providers to avoid causing harm to the patient. Therefore, the combined effect of beneficence and non-malpractice encompasses the ethical consideration of maximizing benefits while minimizing harm in medical decision-making.

The principle of Autonomy states that patients have the right to make decisions about their own healthcare based on their own values and beliefs. This includes the right to exercise their free will and accord, meaning that they have the freedom to choose or refuse medical treatments or interventions. This principle also emphasizes that patients should not be harmed by their physicians and that they should have access to their medical notes, ensuring transparency and involvement in their own care. Therefore, the correct answer is "free will and accord."

The statement suggests that one of the weaknesses of the Deontological theory is its inability to resolve conflicts among moral persons who disagree. However, this statement is false. Deontological ethics, also known as duty-based ethics, focuses on the inherent moral obligations and principles that guide our actions. It emphasizes following moral rules and duties regardless of the consequences. While conflicts may arise, Deontological theory provides a framework for resolving them by prioritizing moral duties and principles over personal preferences or opinions. Therefore, the given statement is incorrect.

The teleological theory, also known as consequentialism, focuses on the outcomes or consequences of actions. In the context of industrialized and technological societies, this theory suggests that the political activity and the societal structures should be evaluated based on the overall benefits and results they produce. It emphasizes the importance of achieving desirable outcomes, such as economic growth, technological advancements, and social progress. This theory is often associated with utilitarianism, which seeks to maximize the overall happiness or well-being of the society.

Virtue theory's explicit grounding in the community is one of its strengths because it recognizes that virtues are not solely determined by an individual's personal beliefs or desires, but are shaped and influenced by the values and norms of the community. This recognition allows for a more holistic understanding of virtue ethics, as it acknowledges the importance of social context in shaping moral character. By emphasizing the role of the community, virtue theory promotes a sense of shared responsibility and encourages individuals to consider the impact of their actions on others.

 The virtue theory combines the strengths of both deontological and teleological theories. Similar to the deontological theory, it emphasizes the importance of moral character and virtues in guiding ethical behavior. At the same time, it also recognizes the significance of the consequences and outcomes of actions, which aligns with the teleological theory. By considering both character and consequences, the virtue theory provides a comprehensive approach to ethics that incorporates the strengths of both theories.

The statement "Offers little useful guidance to physicians because many beneficial therapies also have serious risks" is NOT true about the non-maleficence principle.

The non-maleficence principle is one of the four fundamental principles of medical ethics and emphasizes the duty of healthcare providers to do no harm to their patients.

Confidentiality is a principle that ensures privacy and protection of sensitive information. It is based on trust and is typically applied to conversations between doctors and patients. However, the given answer states that confidentiality should always be maintained for all personal, medical, and legal information. This is incorrect because there are certain situations where keeping confidentiality may cause harm, such as when there is a risk of harm to oneself or others. In such cases, healthcare professionals may have a duty to breach confidentiality to ensure safety.

Sharing patient notes does not reduce accuracy. In fact, it can improve accuracy as it allows for better communication and collaboration among healthcare providers. Sharing patient notes ensures that all relevant information is accessible to different healthcare professionals involved in the patient's care, leading to better-informed decisions and more accurate diagnoses. Additionally, sharing patient notes with the patients themselves can also improve accuracy by enabling them to review and provide input on their own medical information, helping to identify any errors or discrepancies.

The correct answer is "An act is moral if it could become a universal rule for society." This statement does not align with the characteristics of Consequential Theory. Consequential Theory focuses on studying the outcomes of actions while analyzing moral activity and choosing the actions that provide the best outcome. The idea of an act becoming a universal rule for society is more closely related to the principle of Universalizability, which is associated with Kantian ethics rather than Consequential Theory.

The principle of non-maleficence in medical ethics is based on the idea of "do no harm." It obligates healthcare providers to avoid causing harm to patients, whether through action or inaction. This principle ensures that treatments or interventions do not result in unnecessary harm or risk. While beneficence focuses on promoting the patient’s well-being, non-maleficence is specifically about avoiding harm. Autonomy refers to respecting patient choices, and justice relates to fairness and equality in medical treatment. Non-maleficence underpins much of medical practice, ensuring patient safety is prioritized.