PHI3200
Ethics in
Healthcare
COMPLETED EXAM
2024
,1. A patient with terminal cancer requests euthanasia from his doctor,
who is morally opposed to the practice. The doctor refers the patient to
another doctor who is willing to perform euthanasia. What ethical
principle is the first doctor following?
a) Autonomy
b) Beneficence
c) Non-maleficence
d) Justice
*Answer: a) Autonomy. The first doctor is respecting the patient's right
to make his own decisions about his end-of-life care, even if he disagrees
with them.*
2. A nurse notices that a colleague is frequently taking narcotics from the
hospital's supply and suspects that he is addicted to them. The nurse
reports the colleague to the supervisor, who initiates an investigation.
What ethical principle is the nurse following?
a) Autonomy
b) Beneficence
c) Non-maleficence
d) Justice
*Answer: d) Justice. The nurse is ensuring that the hospital's resources
are distributed fairly and that the colleague is held accountable for his
actions.*
3. A researcher conducts a clinical trial on a new drug for Alzheimer's
disease and obtains informed consent from the participants, who are
elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. However, the researcher
does not disclose that the drug has a high risk of causing severe side
effects, such as seizures and strokes. What ethical principle is the
researcher violating?
a) Autonomy
b) Beneficence
c) Non-maleficence
d) Justice
*Answer: b) Beneficence. The researcher is not acting in the best
interests of the participants and is exposing them to unnecessary harm.*
, 4. A pregnant woman decides to have an abortion after learning that her
fetus has a genetic disorder that will cause severe disabilities and
suffering. She consults with her partner, who supports her decision, and
her doctor, who performs the procedure safely and legally. What ethical
theory best supports her decision?
a) Deontology
b) Utilitarianism
c) Virtue ethics
d) Feminist ethics
*Answer: b) Utilitarianism. The woman's decision is based on
maximizing the happiness and minimizing the pain for herself, her
partner, and her fetus.*
5. A medical student is assigned to shadow a senior physician in a rural
clinic. The student observes that the physician often prescribes
antibiotics for viral infections, such as colds and flu, despite knowing
that they are ineffective and can contribute to antibiotic resistance. The
student confronts the physician and asks him why he does this. The
physician replies that he does it to satisfy the patients' expectations and
to avoid losing their trust and business. What ethical theory best explains
the physician's behavior?
a) Deontology
b) Utilitarianism
c) Virtue ethics
d) Feminist ethics
*Answer: a) Deontology. The physician's behavior is based on following
a rule or duty, such as satisfying the patients' expectations or maintaining
his income, regardless of the consequences.*
6. A bioethicist is invited to join a committee that reviews research
proposals involving human subjects. The bioethicist notices that most of
the proposals come from male researchers who study male-dominated
fields, such as engineering and computer science, and that few of them
address issues related to gender, race, or culture. The bioethicist raises
this concern with the committee and suggests that they should encourage
more diversity and inclusion in their research agenda. What ethical
theory informs the bioethicist's perspective?
a) Deontology
Ethics in
Healthcare
COMPLETED EXAM
2024
,1. A patient with terminal cancer requests euthanasia from his doctor,
who is morally opposed to the practice. The doctor refers the patient to
another doctor who is willing to perform euthanasia. What ethical
principle is the first doctor following?
a) Autonomy
b) Beneficence
c) Non-maleficence
d) Justice
*Answer: a) Autonomy. The first doctor is respecting the patient's right
to make his own decisions about his end-of-life care, even if he disagrees
with them.*
2. A nurse notices that a colleague is frequently taking narcotics from the
hospital's supply and suspects that he is addicted to them. The nurse
reports the colleague to the supervisor, who initiates an investigation.
What ethical principle is the nurse following?
a) Autonomy
b) Beneficence
c) Non-maleficence
d) Justice
*Answer: d) Justice. The nurse is ensuring that the hospital's resources
are distributed fairly and that the colleague is held accountable for his
actions.*
3. A researcher conducts a clinical trial on a new drug for Alzheimer's
disease and obtains informed consent from the participants, who are
elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. However, the researcher
does not disclose that the drug has a high risk of causing severe side
effects, such as seizures and strokes. What ethical principle is the
researcher violating?
a) Autonomy
b) Beneficence
c) Non-maleficence
d) Justice
*Answer: b) Beneficence. The researcher is not acting in the best
interests of the participants and is exposing them to unnecessary harm.*
, 4. A pregnant woman decides to have an abortion after learning that her
fetus has a genetic disorder that will cause severe disabilities and
suffering. She consults with her partner, who supports her decision, and
her doctor, who performs the procedure safely and legally. What ethical
theory best supports her decision?
a) Deontology
b) Utilitarianism
c) Virtue ethics
d) Feminist ethics
*Answer: b) Utilitarianism. The woman's decision is based on
maximizing the happiness and minimizing the pain for herself, her
partner, and her fetus.*
5. A medical student is assigned to shadow a senior physician in a rural
clinic. The student observes that the physician often prescribes
antibiotics for viral infections, such as colds and flu, despite knowing
that they are ineffective and can contribute to antibiotic resistance. The
student confronts the physician and asks him why he does this. The
physician replies that he does it to satisfy the patients' expectations and
to avoid losing their trust and business. What ethical theory best explains
the physician's behavior?
a) Deontology
b) Utilitarianism
c) Virtue ethics
d) Feminist ethics
*Answer: a) Deontology. The physician's behavior is based on following
a rule or duty, such as satisfying the patients' expectations or maintaining
his income, regardless of the consequences.*
6. A bioethicist is invited to join a committee that reviews research
proposals involving human subjects. The bioethicist notices that most of
the proposals come from male researchers who study male-dominated
fields, such as engineering and computer science, and that few of them
address issues related to gender, race, or culture. The bioethicist raises
this concern with the committee and suggests that they should encourage
more diversity and inclusion in their research agenda. What ethical
theory informs the bioethicist's perspective?
a) Deontology
