Patients in Healthcare Ethics Exam Prep Document 2026/2027 |
Bioethics, Patient Rights & Ethical Decision-Making in
Healthcare | 50 Verified Questions with Detailed Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW
Patient-centered ethics forms the foundation of modern healthcare, encompassing the rights,
dignity, and autonomy of patients as the central focus of healthcare delivery. This document
covers five key domains:
Domain Weight Questions
Core Ethical Principles & Patient Rights 20% 1-10
Autonomy & Informed Consent 20% 11-20
Confidentiality & Privacy 20% 21-30
Beneficence, Nonmaleficence & Harm Prevention 20% 31-40
Special Populations & Applied Scenarios 20% 41-50
DOMAIN 1: CORE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES & PATIENT RIGHTS
Question 1
,Which of the following is NOT one of the four core principles of biomedical ethics
established by Beauchamp and Childress?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Fidelity
D) Justice
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The four core principles of biomedical ethics are autonomy, beneficence,
nonmaleficence, and justice. Fidelity (faithfulness to commitments) is an important ethical
concept but is not one of the four core principles. These principles serve as the foundation for
ethical decision-making in healthcare.
Question 2
Patient rights in healthcare are fundamentally based on which ethical principle?
A) Justice
B) Beneficence
C) Autonomy
D) Nonmaleficence
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patient rights are fundamentally based on the principle of autonomy — the right of
individuals to make their own decisions about their healthcare. Patient rights include the right to
informed consent, the right to refuse treatment, the right to privacy and confidentiality, and the
right to participate in decisions about their care.
Question 3
The principle of justice in healthcare ethics refers to:
A) The right to make one's own healthcare decisions
B) The obligation to do good and promote patient welfare
, C) The fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources and services
D) The duty to avoid causing harm to patients
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Justice refers to the fair, equitable, and appropriate distribution of healthcare
resources and services. It addresses questions of who receives what care, how resources are
allocated, and the elimination of disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.
Question 4
Which of the following is considered a fundamental patient right?
A) The right to receive any treatment requested
B) The right to refuse treatment
C) The right to have all treatment at no cost
D) The right to dictate hospital policy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The right to refuse treatment is a fundamental patient right rooted in the principle
of autonomy. Patients with decision-making capacity have the right to refuse any medical
treatment, even if the refusal may lead to death. Patients do not have the right to demand any
treatment (A), free treatment (C), or to dictate hospital policy (D).
Question 5
The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) of 1990 requires healthcare organizations to:
A) Guarantee all patients receive free care
B) Inform patients of their rights to make decisions about their medical care, including the right
to create advance directives
C) Eliminate all patient rights
D) Require all patients to accept treatment
Correct Answer: B
Bioethics, Patient Rights & Ethical Decision-Making in
Healthcare | 50 Verified Questions with Detailed Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW
Patient-centered ethics forms the foundation of modern healthcare, encompassing the rights,
dignity, and autonomy of patients as the central focus of healthcare delivery. This document
covers five key domains:
Domain Weight Questions
Core Ethical Principles & Patient Rights 20% 1-10
Autonomy & Informed Consent 20% 11-20
Confidentiality & Privacy 20% 21-30
Beneficence, Nonmaleficence & Harm Prevention 20% 31-40
Special Populations & Applied Scenarios 20% 41-50
DOMAIN 1: CORE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES & PATIENT RIGHTS
Question 1
,Which of the following is NOT one of the four core principles of biomedical ethics
established by Beauchamp and Childress?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Fidelity
D) Justice
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The four core principles of biomedical ethics are autonomy, beneficence,
nonmaleficence, and justice. Fidelity (faithfulness to commitments) is an important ethical
concept but is not one of the four core principles. These principles serve as the foundation for
ethical decision-making in healthcare.
Question 2
Patient rights in healthcare are fundamentally based on which ethical principle?
A) Justice
B) Beneficence
C) Autonomy
D) Nonmaleficence
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patient rights are fundamentally based on the principle of autonomy — the right of
individuals to make their own decisions about their healthcare. Patient rights include the right to
informed consent, the right to refuse treatment, the right to privacy and confidentiality, and the
right to participate in decisions about their care.
Question 3
The principle of justice in healthcare ethics refers to:
A) The right to make one's own healthcare decisions
B) The obligation to do good and promote patient welfare
, C) The fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources and services
D) The duty to avoid causing harm to patients
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Justice refers to the fair, equitable, and appropriate distribution of healthcare
resources and services. It addresses questions of who receives what care, how resources are
allocated, and the elimination of disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.
Question 4
Which of the following is considered a fundamental patient right?
A) The right to receive any treatment requested
B) The right to refuse treatment
C) The right to have all treatment at no cost
D) The right to dictate hospital policy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The right to refuse treatment is a fundamental patient right rooted in the principle
of autonomy. Patients with decision-making capacity have the right to refuse any medical
treatment, even if the refusal may lead to death. Patients do not have the right to demand any
treatment (A), free treatment (C), or to dictate hospital policy (D).
Question 5
The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) of 1990 requires healthcare organizations to:
A) Guarantee all patients receive free care
B) Inform patients of their rights to make decisions about their medical care, including the right
to create advance directives
C) Eliminate all patient rights
D) Require all patients to accept treatment
Correct Answer: B
