COMLEX Medical Law/Ethics LATEST VERSION [QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS] WITH PRACTICE EXAM DETAILED AND
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS- LATEST UPDATE 2025
GRADED A
True or False: Parents can refuse to have their child receive Chemotherapy -
CORRECT ANSWER False- if parents refuse consent for treatment for a non-
emergent, but fatal medical condition the physical should obtain a court order
In terms of consent, if both parents (who are divorced) have custody of a child, do both
need to give consent for the child to be treated? - CORRECT ANSWER No- only
one parent needs to consent for treatment
What classifies one as an emancipated minor? - CORRECT ANSWER Homeless
Parent (i.e. 16yo mother)
Married
Military
Finically independent
High School Graduate
What medical circumstances do minor not need parental consent? - CORRECT
ANSWER emergency care
STIs
substance abuse
prenatal care
How long does a physician have to release records when requested by a patient? -
CORRECT ANSWER 30 days
What is the difference between competency and capacity? - CORRECT ANSWER
Competency= legal definition
Capacity= medical definition
--ability to make decisions on their own
What is the Hospice Model? - CORRECT ANSWER -focus on quality of life (not
life prolongation)
-symptomatic control (i.e. pain, N/V, anxiety, depression)
-interdisciplinary team (medical, nursing, psychosocial, spiritual, bereavement care)
-services provided at home, assisted living, or dedicated facility
-requires a survival prognosis of <6mo
, What are the 2 components of an advance directive? - CORRECT ANSWER 1.
Living will
2. Durable power of attorney
What happens if a durable power of attorney disagrees with the patients living will? -
CORRECT ANSWER (the living will must ultimately be honored)
1st Step= meet with family and discuss situation (while providing supportive care) and
review living will
2nd Step=if conflicts arise- consult hospital's ethics committee.
What is the most common cause of medical errors? - CORRECT ANSWER
Miscommunication between providers
True or False? A physician can respond to an employers request for health information
if given verbal permission by the patient? - CORRECT ANSWER True- physicians
can respond to an employers request for health information either by a verbal or written
consent.
Is it legal/ethical for students to practice medical procedures on recently deceased
patients? - CORRECT ANSWER Yes- the attending physician must obtain
permission from the family (or patient prior to death) before a student can perform
procedures. The training must be a structured training sequence and performed under
close supervision.
True or False? A pregnant mother who has the capacity to chose has the right to refuse
treatment even if it places her unborn child at risk. - CORRECT ANSWER True
Autonomy - CORRECT ANSWER Autonomy is the right or capacity to make one's
own rational decisions, using one's own value system, and act on those decisions,
without undue coercion from other people or influences. Thus autonomy requires an
adequate degree of freedom of thought and action.
Beneficence - CORRECT ANSWER One should act in such a way that it produces
beneficial results. Usually in health care, beneficence is interpreted as a health care
professional's duty to act in a manner that in their best judgement will benefit the
patient.
Euthanasia - CORRECT ANSWER Euthanasia is intentionally causing the death of
a person, the motive being to benefit that person, honor his/her wishes, or protect
him/her from further suffering. If the motive is other than the interests of the patient, then
it does not qualify as euthanasia (i.e. cost-cutting, triage, etc.).
AND ANSWERS] WITH PRACTICE EXAM DETAILED AND
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS- LATEST UPDATE 2025
GRADED A
True or False: Parents can refuse to have their child receive Chemotherapy -
CORRECT ANSWER False- if parents refuse consent for treatment for a non-
emergent, but fatal medical condition the physical should obtain a court order
In terms of consent, if both parents (who are divorced) have custody of a child, do both
need to give consent for the child to be treated? - CORRECT ANSWER No- only
one parent needs to consent for treatment
What classifies one as an emancipated minor? - CORRECT ANSWER Homeless
Parent (i.e. 16yo mother)
Married
Military
Finically independent
High School Graduate
What medical circumstances do minor not need parental consent? - CORRECT
ANSWER emergency care
STIs
substance abuse
prenatal care
How long does a physician have to release records when requested by a patient? -
CORRECT ANSWER 30 days
What is the difference between competency and capacity? - CORRECT ANSWER
Competency= legal definition
Capacity= medical definition
--ability to make decisions on their own
What is the Hospice Model? - CORRECT ANSWER -focus on quality of life (not
life prolongation)
-symptomatic control (i.e. pain, N/V, anxiety, depression)
-interdisciplinary team (medical, nursing, psychosocial, spiritual, bereavement care)
-services provided at home, assisted living, or dedicated facility
-requires a survival prognosis of <6mo
, What are the 2 components of an advance directive? - CORRECT ANSWER 1.
Living will
2. Durable power of attorney
What happens if a durable power of attorney disagrees with the patients living will? -
CORRECT ANSWER (the living will must ultimately be honored)
1st Step= meet with family and discuss situation (while providing supportive care) and
review living will
2nd Step=if conflicts arise- consult hospital's ethics committee.
What is the most common cause of medical errors? - CORRECT ANSWER
Miscommunication between providers
True or False? A physician can respond to an employers request for health information
if given verbal permission by the patient? - CORRECT ANSWER True- physicians
can respond to an employers request for health information either by a verbal or written
consent.
Is it legal/ethical for students to practice medical procedures on recently deceased
patients? - CORRECT ANSWER Yes- the attending physician must obtain
permission from the family (or patient prior to death) before a student can perform
procedures. The training must be a structured training sequence and performed under
close supervision.
True or False? A pregnant mother who has the capacity to chose has the right to refuse
treatment even if it places her unborn child at risk. - CORRECT ANSWER True
Autonomy - CORRECT ANSWER Autonomy is the right or capacity to make one's
own rational decisions, using one's own value system, and act on those decisions,
without undue coercion from other people or influences. Thus autonomy requires an
adequate degree of freedom of thought and action.
Beneficence - CORRECT ANSWER One should act in such a way that it produces
beneficial results. Usually in health care, beneficence is interpreted as a health care
professional's duty to act in a manner that in their best judgement will benefit the
patient.
Euthanasia - CORRECT ANSWER Euthanasia is intentionally causing the death of
a person, the motive being to benefit that person, honor his/her wishes, or protect
him/her from further suffering. If the motive is other than the interests of the patient, then
it does not qualify as euthanasia (i.e. cost-cutting, triage, etc.).
