34. Respect for Persons

Question 1

Which of the following is not included in the principles of the Hippocratic Oath?

A. Prevention of Death
B. Cure Diseases
C. Relieve Suffering
D. Patient Autonomy
E. Promote Patient Welfare 

SZ

Answer 1

Ans. D Patient Autonomy

Those Greek docs thought patients were dumb AF and should not be able to make their own decisions regarding their bodies.

Question 2

Your patient with hypertension needs to be started on a new medication, Elephante. Elephante has been shown to decrease blood pressure and decrease the risk of stroke. There are also some side effects of the drug including fatigue, dry mouth, mild hair loss, and growth of a large accessory “trunk-like” appendage. You know that your patient is not very educated and hates taking medications. The chances of him growing the appendage is about 1 in 100,000 cases reported by published research. In order for him to take the beneficial medication you leave out the risk of appendage and just speak about the other possible and rare side effects. You are committing an example of which if the following?

A. Professional Standard
B. Reasonable Person Standard
C. Subjective Standard
D. Moral Standard

SZ

Answer 2

Ans. B Reasonable Standard

You are only disclosing some of the possible side effects. Due to his lack of intelligence he may not realize the risk of growing an appendage is slim and want him to take the drug. You are basing your thinking on the idea…..”What would a reasonable lay person want to know?”

Question 3

A colleague of yours has made some questionable medical decisions lately, and you believe he is violating basic ethical practices. Recently, he had a pregnant female patient who was dying. You and your other colleagues believe she could be saved from her condition if the fetus is aborted. However, the attending physician will not perform an abortion as it violates his religious beliefs. What element of respect for persons is the attending physician violating? (MG)

A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Veracity
D. Primum non nocere

Answer 3

D. Primum non nocere

aka Avoidance of killing

This is the best answer since the attending physician is withholding a treatment.

Question 4

A 14 year old female patient comes to your clinic with painful, burning urination. You perform a urine culture and find that the patient is positive for neisseria gonorrhoeae. The patient has normal mental capacity and is mature for her age. She asks that you don’t tell her mom about her diagnosis. You tell her mom anyway, because the patient is underage. What element of respect for persons did you violate? (MG)

A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Veracity
D. Primum non nocere

Answer 4

A. Fidelity

This is a violation of confidentiality since the patient is mentally capable and mature enough to take her treatment regiment and understand her diagnosis