WGU C426 OA EXAM (2026 EDITION) –
HEALTHCARE ETHICS 200 Questions |
Answers & Rationales
Exam Blueprint:
Ethical Theories & Principles (20%) – 40 Qs
Legal & Regulatory Issues (20%) – 40 Qs
End-of-Life & Palliative Care Ethics (20%) – 40 Qs
Professional & Organizational Ethics (20%) – 40 Qs
Special Populations & Contemporary Issues (20%) – 40 Qs
Time limit (simulated): 2.5 hours (0.75 min/question)
Passing threshold: 70% (140/200)
SECTION 1: ETHICAL THEORIES & PRINCIPLES (Questions 1–40)
1. Which ethical principle requires healthcare providers to "do good" and
act in the patient's best interest?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: A
,Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to act for the benefit of others, promoting
good and preventing harm.
2. Which ethical principle requires healthcare providers to "do no harm"?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: B
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the principle of avoiding harm or injury to
patients (primum non nocere).
3. Which ethical principle respects a patient's right to make their own
healthcare decisions?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy respects self-determination and the right of
competent individuals to make informed choices.
4. Which ethical principle requires fair distribution of healthcare resources?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: D
,Rationale: Justice requires equitable distribution of benefits, risks, and costs
in healthcare.
5. A patient refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs, even
though it may save their life. Which ethical principle supports respecting
this refusal?
A) Beneficence
B) Autonomy
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Justice
Answer: B
Rationale: Autonomy respects the patient's right to make decisions based
on their values, even if those decisions conflict with medical advice.
6. A nurse administers a pain medication that may cause respiratory
depression but is necessary to relieve severe pain. This reflects balancing
which two principles?
A) Autonomy and justice
B) Beneficence and nonmaleficence
C) Fidelity and veracity
D) Confidentiality and fidelity
Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence (relieving pain) balanced against nonmaleficence
(risk of respiratory depression) – the principle of double effect.
7. Which ethical theory focuses on the consequences (outcomes) of an
action to determine its morality?
A) Deontology
B) Utilitarianism (consequentialism)
, C) Virtue ethics
D) Principlism
Answer: B
Rationale: Utilitarianism (a form of consequentialism) holds that the right
action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number.
8. Which ethical theory focuses on duties and rules regardless of
consequences?
A) Utilitarianism
B) Deontology
C) Virtue ethics
D) Casuistry
Answer: B
Rationale: Deontology (Kantian ethics) holds that actions are morally right
based on adherence to duties and rules, not outcomes.
9. Which ethical theory emphasizes the character and virtues of the moral
agent rather than rules or consequences?
A) Deontology
B) Utilitarianism
C) Virtue ethics
D) Principlism
Answer: C
Rationale: Virtue ethics focuses on cultivating virtues (compassion,
honesty, courage) that enable a person to act ethically.
10. The principle of double effect allows an action with both good and bad
effects if certain conditions are met. Which is NOT a condition?
A) The action itself is morally good or neutral
HEALTHCARE ETHICS 200 Questions |
Answers & Rationales
Exam Blueprint:
Ethical Theories & Principles (20%) – 40 Qs
Legal & Regulatory Issues (20%) – 40 Qs
End-of-Life & Palliative Care Ethics (20%) – 40 Qs
Professional & Organizational Ethics (20%) – 40 Qs
Special Populations & Contemporary Issues (20%) – 40 Qs
Time limit (simulated): 2.5 hours (0.75 min/question)
Passing threshold: 70% (140/200)
SECTION 1: ETHICAL THEORIES & PRINCIPLES (Questions 1–40)
1. Which ethical principle requires healthcare providers to "do good" and
act in the patient's best interest?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: A
,Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to act for the benefit of others, promoting
good and preventing harm.
2. Which ethical principle requires healthcare providers to "do no harm"?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: B
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the principle of avoiding harm or injury to
patients (primum non nocere).
3. Which ethical principle respects a patient's right to make their own
healthcare decisions?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy respects self-determination and the right of
competent individuals to make informed choices.
4. Which ethical principle requires fair distribution of healthcare resources?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: D
,Rationale: Justice requires equitable distribution of benefits, risks, and costs
in healthcare.
5. A patient refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs, even
though it may save their life. Which ethical principle supports respecting
this refusal?
A) Beneficence
B) Autonomy
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Justice
Answer: B
Rationale: Autonomy respects the patient's right to make decisions based
on their values, even if those decisions conflict with medical advice.
6. A nurse administers a pain medication that may cause respiratory
depression but is necessary to relieve severe pain. This reflects balancing
which two principles?
A) Autonomy and justice
B) Beneficence and nonmaleficence
C) Fidelity and veracity
D) Confidentiality and fidelity
Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence (relieving pain) balanced against nonmaleficence
(risk of respiratory depression) – the principle of double effect.
7. Which ethical theory focuses on the consequences (outcomes) of an
action to determine its morality?
A) Deontology
B) Utilitarianism (consequentialism)
, C) Virtue ethics
D) Principlism
Answer: B
Rationale: Utilitarianism (a form of consequentialism) holds that the right
action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number.
8. Which ethical theory focuses on duties and rules regardless of
consequences?
A) Utilitarianism
B) Deontology
C) Virtue ethics
D) Casuistry
Answer: B
Rationale: Deontology (Kantian ethics) holds that actions are morally right
based on adherence to duties and rules, not outcomes.
9. Which ethical theory emphasizes the character and virtues of the moral
agent rather than rules or consequences?
A) Deontology
B) Utilitarianism
C) Virtue ethics
D) Principlism
Answer: C
Rationale: Virtue ethics focuses on cultivating virtues (compassion,
honesty, courage) that enable a person to act ethically.
10. The principle of double effect allows an action with both good and bad
effects if certain conditions are met. Which is NOT a condition?
A) The action itself is morally good or neutral
