TEST BANK APPLIED LAW AND ETHICS IN
HEALTH CARE, 1ST EDITION
WENDY MIA PARDEW
Section I: Multiple Choice (40 Questions)
1. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The healthcare team respects
this decision. This is an example of which ethical principle?
a) Beneficence
b) Nonmaleficence
c) Autonomy
d) Justice
Answer: c) Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy respects the patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions, even if those
decisions contradict medical advice.
2. Which of the following is a key element of informed consent?
a) The patient must sign a general admission form
b) The patient must understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives
c) The physician must guarantee a positive outcome
d) The nurse must witness the signature only
Answer: b) The patient must understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives
Rationale: Informed consent requires comprehension, not just a signature; it is a process, not a form.
3. A healthcare provider accidentally administers the wrong medication but the patient suffers no harm.
Legally, this is still considered:
a) Assault
b) Negligence (if duty, breach, causation, and damages exist – here damages may be missing)
c) Battery
d) No liability because no harm occurred
Answer: b) Negligence (but note: without damages, a lawsuit may fail; however, the act is still a
breach of duty) – Best Answer per textbook: Negligence
, Rationale: Negligence requires duty, breach, causation, and damages. Without damages, legal liability
may not attach, but the breach occurred. In health law, this is often called "technical negligence."
4. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) primarily protects:
a) Patient financial data
b) Patient identifiable health information (PHI)
c) Hospital revenue cycles
d) Medical staff credentials
Answer: b) Patient identifiable health information (PHI)
Rationale: HIPAA’s Privacy Rule specifically protects individually identifiable health information.
5. A living will is an example of a(n):
a) Durable power of attorney for health care
b) Advance directive
c) Do not resuscitate order
d) Informed consent document
Answer: b) Advance directive
Rationale: Living wills and healthcare powers of attorney are both types of advance directives.
6. Which tort involves the intentional threat of harmful or offensive contact?
a) Battery
b) Assault
c) Malpractice
d) Fraud
Answer: b) Assault
Rationale: Assault is the apprehension of harmful contact; battery is the actual contact.
7. A surgeon operates on the wrong leg. This is an example of:
a) Res ipsa loquitur
b) Respondeat superior
c) Assault
d) Breach of confidentiality
Answer: a) Res ipsa loquitur ("the thing speaks for itself")
Rationale: The error would not occur without negligence; the burden shifts to the defendant.
8. Which ethical theory focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number?
a) Deontology
b) Virtue ethics
c) Utilitarianism
d) Principlism
HEALTH CARE, 1ST EDITION
WENDY MIA PARDEW
Section I: Multiple Choice (40 Questions)
1. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The healthcare team respects
this decision. This is an example of which ethical principle?
a) Beneficence
b) Nonmaleficence
c) Autonomy
d) Justice
Answer: c) Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy respects the patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions, even if those
decisions contradict medical advice.
2. Which of the following is a key element of informed consent?
a) The patient must sign a general admission form
b) The patient must understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives
c) The physician must guarantee a positive outcome
d) The nurse must witness the signature only
Answer: b) The patient must understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives
Rationale: Informed consent requires comprehension, not just a signature; it is a process, not a form.
3. A healthcare provider accidentally administers the wrong medication but the patient suffers no harm.
Legally, this is still considered:
a) Assault
b) Negligence (if duty, breach, causation, and damages exist – here damages may be missing)
c) Battery
d) No liability because no harm occurred
Answer: b) Negligence (but note: without damages, a lawsuit may fail; however, the act is still a
breach of duty) – Best Answer per textbook: Negligence
, Rationale: Negligence requires duty, breach, causation, and damages. Without damages, legal liability
may not attach, but the breach occurred. In health law, this is often called "technical negligence."
4. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) primarily protects:
a) Patient financial data
b) Patient identifiable health information (PHI)
c) Hospital revenue cycles
d) Medical staff credentials
Answer: b) Patient identifiable health information (PHI)
Rationale: HIPAA’s Privacy Rule specifically protects individually identifiable health information.
5. A living will is an example of a(n):
a) Durable power of attorney for health care
b) Advance directive
c) Do not resuscitate order
d) Informed consent document
Answer: b) Advance directive
Rationale: Living wills and healthcare powers of attorney are both types of advance directives.
6. Which tort involves the intentional threat of harmful or offensive contact?
a) Battery
b) Assault
c) Malpractice
d) Fraud
Answer: b) Assault
Rationale: Assault is the apprehension of harmful contact; battery is the actual contact.
7. A surgeon operates on the wrong leg. This is an example of:
a) Res ipsa loquitur
b) Respondeat superior
c) Assault
d) Breach of confidentiality
Answer: a) Res ipsa loquitur ("the thing speaks for itself")
Rationale: The error would not occur without negligence; the burden shifts to the defendant.
8. Which ethical theory focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number?
a) Deontology
b) Virtue ethics
c) Utilitarianism
d) Principlism
