WGU C909 Healthcare Law and Ethics
WGU C909 Healthcare Law and Ethics OA Practice
Exam Questions and Answers 2026. Advanced
NCLEX-Style 100 MCQs with Rationales
This practice exam emphasizes healthcare law, ethics, HIPAA, informed consent,
malpractice, negligence, patient rights, end-of-life issues, healthcare compliance, fraud and
abuse, and legal responsibilities commonly covered in healthcare law and ethics curricula.
Q1
A competent adult patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion based on religious beliefs. The
healthcare provider should:
A. Obtain a court order immediately
B. Administer the transfusion to save the patient's life
C. Respect the patient's decision after confirming informed refusal
D. Ask family members to override the decision
Answer: C
Rationale: Respect for patient autonomy requires honoring informed decisions made by
competent adults, even when providers disagree.
Q2
Which ethical principle is most closely associated with a patient's right to make healthcare
decisions?
A. Justice
B. Beneficence
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy
Answer: D
Rationale: Autonomy supports self-determination and informed decision-making.
Q3
, WGU C909 Healthcare Law and Ethics
A physician fails to diagnose appendicitis despite symptoms that a reasonably prudent physician
would have recognized. This may constitute:
A. Assault
B. Negligence
C. Battery
D. Defamation
Answer: B
Rationale: Negligence occurs when the standard of care is breached and harm results.
Q4
Which federal law primarily protects patient health information privacy?
A. EMTALA
B. OSHA
C. HIPAA
D. Stark Law
Answer: C
Rationale: HIPAA establishes national standards for protecting health information.
Q5
A healthcare worker accesses a celebrity's medical record out of curiosity. This action most
likely violates:
A. EMTALA
B. HIPAA Privacy Rule
C. False Claims Act
D. Anti-Kickback Statute
Answer: B
Q6
The ethical principle of "do no harm" is known as:
, WGU C909 Healthcare Law and Ethics
A. Justice
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Veracity
Answer: C
Q7
A patient signs a consent form but does not understand the procedure's risks. Legally, the consent
may be:
A. Implied
B. Valid
C. Informed
D. Invalid
Answer: D
Rationale: Understanding risks, benefits, and alternatives is essential for informed consent.
Q8
Which situation best demonstrates battery in healthcare?
A. Discussing a patient publicly
B. Performing a procedure without consent
C. Documenting inaccurate information
D. Failing to diagnose a condition
Answer: B
Q9
The four Ds of negligence include all EXCEPT:
A. Duty
B. Dereliction
C. Damages
D. Disclosure
, WGU C909 Healthcare Law and Ethics
Answer: D
Rationale: The four Ds are Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, and Damages.
Q10
Which ethical principle focuses on fair distribution of healthcare resources?
A. Justice
B. Fidelity
C. Autonomy
D. Veracity
Answer: A
Q11
A hospital refuses emergency treatment to an unstable patient due to lack of insurance. This most
likely violates:
A. HIPAA
B. EMTALA
C. OSHA
D. CLIA
Answer: B
Q12
A healthcare administrator receives money for referring patients to a specific laboratory. This
arrangement may violate:
A. EMTALA
B. HIPAA
C. Anti-Kickback Statute
D. Good Samaritan Law
Answer: C
WGU C909 Healthcare Law and Ethics OA Practice
Exam Questions and Answers 2026. Advanced
NCLEX-Style 100 MCQs with Rationales
This practice exam emphasizes healthcare law, ethics, HIPAA, informed consent,
malpractice, negligence, patient rights, end-of-life issues, healthcare compliance, fraud and
abuse, and legal responsibilities commonly covered in healthcare law and ethics curricula.
Q1
A competent adult patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion based on religious beliefs. The
healthcare provider should:
A. Obtain a court order immediately
B. Administer the transfusion to save the patient's life
C. Respect the patient's decision after confirming informed refusal
D. Ask family members to override the decision
Answer: C
Rationale: Respect for patient autonomy requires honoring informed decisions made by
competent adults, even when providers disagree.
Q2
Which ethical principle is most closely associated with a patient's right to make healthcare
decisions?
A. Justice
B. Beneficence
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy
Answer: D
Rationale: Autonomy supports self-determination and informed decision-making.
Q3
, WGU C909 Healthcare Law and Ethics
A physician fails to diagnose appendicitis despite symptoms that a reasonably prudent physician
would have recognized. This may constitute:
A. Assault
B. Negligence
C. Battery
D. Defamation
Answer: B
Rationale: Negligence occurs when the standard of care is breached and harm results.
Q4
Which federal law primarily protects patient health information privacy?
A. EMTALA
B. OSHA
C. HIPAA
D. Stark Law
Answer: C
Rationale: HIPAA establishes national standards for protecting health information.
Q5
A healthcare worker accesses a celebrity's medical record out of curiosity. This action most
likely violates:
A. EMTALA
B. HIPAA Privacy Rule
C. False Claims Act
D. Anti-Kickback Statute
Answer: B
Q6
The ethical principle of "do no harm" is known as:
, WGU C909 Healthcare Law and Ethics
A. Justice
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Veracity
Answer: C
Q7
A patient signs a consent form but does not understand the procedure's risks. Legally, the consent
may be:
A. Implied
B. Valid
C. Informed
D. Invalid
Answer: D
Rationale: Understanding risks, benefits, and alternatives is essential for informed consent.
Q8
Which situation best demonstrates battery in healthcare?
A. Discussing a patient publicly
B. Performing a procedure without consent
C. Documenting inaccurate information
D. Failing to diagnose a condition
Answer: B
Q9
The four Ds of negligence include all EXCEPT:
A. Duty
B. Dereliction
C. Damages
D. Disclosure
, WGU C909 Healthcare Law and Ethics
Answer: D
Rationale: The four Ds are Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, and Damages.
Q10
Which ethical principle focuses on fair distribution of healthcare resources?
A. Justice
B. Fidelity
C. Autonomy
D. Veracity
Answer: A
Q11
A hospital refuses emergency treatment to an unstable patient due to lack of insurance. This most
likely violates:
A. HIPAA
B. EMTALA
C. OSHA
D. CLIA
Answer: B
Q12
A healthcare administrator receives money for referring patients to a specific laboratory. This
arrangement may violate:
A. EMTALA
B. HIPAA
C. Anti-Kickback Statute
D. Good Samaritan Law
Answer: C
