Deck 4: Managing Patient Information

Question 1

What is a moral dilemma? A problem that arises in a situation …

A) Where there are two or more incompatible moral duties or values
B) Where there is a difficult decision to be made
C) Where it is clear what's the morally right thing to do
D) Where some basic moral rule or value is violated

Answer 1

A

Question 2

In the Tarasoff decision, the California Supreme Court issued a majority and a minority opinion. Which, if either of these, was consequentialist?

A) The minority opinion
B) The majority opinion
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B

Answer 2

C

Question 3

According to the Tarasoff decision, when a medical professional learns that a patient poses a serious risk to a third party, she has the duty …

A) To protect the third party
B) To persuade the patient
C) To honor medical confidentiality
D) All of the above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The argument "Violations of medical confidentiality are likely to result in something bad: namely, more violent crimes in society. Therefore, the Tarasoff decision was wrong" is …

A) A Kantian objection to the Tarasoff decision
B) A care ethics objection to the Tarasoff decision
C) A consequentialist objection to the Tarasoff decision
D) None of the above

Question 5

According to Chapter 4, which of the following positions about medical confidentiality has been proposed?

A) Absolutism
B) Universalism
C) Skepticism
D) All of the above

Question 6

Which of the following positions about medical confidentiality is most favored by professional codes of medical ethics?

A) Absolutism
B) Universalism
C) Skepticism
D) All of the above

Question 7

Which of the following best captures the view that medical confidentiality does count as a duty of health care professionals but only most of the times?

A) Absolutism about medical confidentiality
B) Universalism about medical confidentiality
C) Skepticism about medical confidentiality
D) None of the above

Question 8

Which of the following best captures the view that confidentiality is an exceptionless duty of medical professionals?

A) Absolutism about medical confidentiality
B) Universalism about medical confidentiality
C) Skepticism about medical confidentiality
D) None of the above

Question 9

Given respect for patient autonomy, health professionals must …

A) Withhold medical facts when they think a patient is better off not knowing
B) Disclose medical facts even if they think a patient is better off not knowing
C) Under-disclose the medical facts whose knowledge can obstruct treatment
D) Deceive the patient when they think she is better off not knowing

Question 10

A consequentialist reason against deception in clinical practice is that …

A) Patients must be treated as ends in themselves and not merely as means
B) Deception is not what the virtuous caregiver does when acting in character
C) Deception may erode trust in the health care system
D) All of the above

Question 11

Which situations are exceptions to medical confidentiality mandated by law? A patient's …

A) Impairments to operate vehicles
B) Possible threat to identifiable third parties
C) Gunshot wounds
D) All of the above

Question 12

The attempt to impose one's own ethical values on other cultures is called …

A) "The problem of culture"
B) "Ethical imperialism"
C) "Cultural relativism"
D) None of the above

Question 13

The Human Genome Project produced …

A) Genetic knowledge
B) Genetic pseudo-knowledge
C) Genetic determinism
D) None of the above

Question 14

Given nondirective genetic counseling, it is morally forbidden for genetic counselors …

A) To make attempts at persuading clients at risk of genetic disorders to undergo genetic testing
B) To suggest to clients at risk of genetic disorders that they undergoing genetic testing
C) To pressure clients at risk of genetic disorders to undergo genetic testing
D) All of the above

Question 15

According to a Kantian argument against the right to genetic ignorance …

A) Genetic ignorance can lead to bad consequences for others
B) Genetic ignorance is incompatible with patient autonomy
C) Genetic ignorance interferes with population studies
D) All of the above

Question 16

Which of the moral theories discussed in Chapter 2 best captures the reasoning in Tarasoff, both the majority and the minority opinions? Why?

Question 17

What is a Tarasoff-like dilemma? Illustrate your answer with examples.

Question 18

Discuss the Tarasoff decision by raising what you consider the best objection to it and the best reply to that objection.

Question 19

Do health care providers have duties to third parties? If so, what are they?

Question 20

Define 'disclosure' and discuss what kind of duty, if any, it imposes in clinical practice.