HLHS 105 / MEDL 101 Exam 2 V1 | HLHS
105 / MEDL 101 Medical Law & Ethics |
Actual Q&A with Rationale
(HLHS105/MEDL101 Exam 2 | Ivy Tech
Community College
1. A medical assistant forgets to perform a ordered follow-up phone call to a patient, leading
to a complication. Which ‘D’ of negligence is specifically represented by this failure to act?
A. Duty
B. Damages
C. Direct Cause
D. Dereliction
Answer: D
Rationale: Dereliction of duty occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide the
established standard of care. In this scenario, the failure to perform the ordered follow-up
call constitutes a breach of professional obligation. The plaintiff must prove that this
specific omission directly led to the resulting injury.
2. Under which legal doctrine is an employer held responsible for the negligent actions of an
employee performed within the scope of employment?
A. Res ipsa loquitur
,B. Quid pro quo
C. Respondeat superior
D. Stare decisis
Answer: C
Rationale: Respondeat superior is a Latin term meaning ‘let the master answer,’ which
holds employers vicariously liable for employee actions. This doctrine ensures that patients
can seek damages from the entity with more resources, typically the practice or hospital. It
only applies if the employee was acting within their designated job duties at the time of the
incident.
3. A surgeon leaves a sponge inside a patient’s abdomen during surgery. The legal doctrine
most likely applied in this case is:
A. Contributory negligence
B. Assumption of risk
C. Res ipsa loquitur
D. Comparative negligence
Answer: C
Rationale: Res ipsa loquitur means ‘the thing speaks for itself’ and is applied when
negligence is obvious. In such cases, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant to prove
, they were not negligent. Leaving foreign objects in a patient body is a classic example of
this doctrine in medical malpractice.
4. What is the primary purpose of the ‘Statute of Limitations’ in medical malpractice?
A. To limit the amount of money a patient can receive.
B. To define the standard of care required for specialists.
C. To set a specific time limit for filing a lawsuit.
D. To protect healthcare workers from all legal action.
Answer: C
Rationale: The statute of limitations defines the period during which a legal claim can be
brought forward. Once this timeframe expires, the plaintiff loses the right to sue for that
specific incident. These limits vary by state and the type of injury involved in the case.
5. In a state following ‘Comparative Negligence’ rules, if a patient is found 20% responsible
for their injury, what happens to the award?
A. The patient receives nothing.
B. The award is reduced by 20%.
C. The patient receives the full award.
D. The physician is cleared of all charges.
Answer: B
105 / MEDL 101 Medical Law & Ethics |
Actual Q&A with Rationale
(HLHS105/MEDL101 Exam 2 | Ivy Tech
Community College
1. A medical assistant forgets to perform a ordered follow-up phone call to a patient, leading
to a complication. Which ‘D’ of negligence is specifically represented by this failure to act?
A. Duty
B. Damages
C. Direct Cause
D. Dereliction
Answer: D
Rationale: Dereliction of duty occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide the
established standard of care. In this scenario, the failure to perform the ordered follow-up
call constitutes a breach of professional obligation. The plaintiff must prove that this
specific omission directly led to the resulting injury.
2. Under which legal doctrine is an employer held responsible for the negligent actions of an
employee performed within the scope of employment?
A. Res ipsa loquitur
,B. Quid pro quo
C. Respondeat superior
D. Stare decisis
Answer: C
Rationale: Respondeat superior is a Latin term meaning ‘let the master answer,’ which
holds employers vicariously liable for employee actions. This doctrine ensures that patients
can seek damages from the entity with more resources, typically the practice or hospital. It
only applies if the employee was acting within their designated job duties at the time of the
incident.
3. A surgeon leaves a sponge inside a patient’s abdomen during surgery. The legal doctrine
most likely applied in this case is:
A. Contributory negligence
B. Assumption of risk
C. Res ipsa loquitur
D. Comparative negligence
Answer: C
Rationale: Res ipsa loquitur means ‘the thing speaks for itself’ and is applied when
negligence is obvious. In such cases, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant to prove
, they were not negligent. Leaving foreign objects in a patient body is a classic example of
this doctrine in medical malpractice.
4. What is the primary purpose of the ‘Statute of Limitations’ in medical malpractice?
A. To limit the amount of money a patient can receive.
B. To define the standard of care required for specialists.
C. To set a specific time limit for filing a lawsuit.
D. To protect healthcare workers from all legal action.
Answer: C
Rationale: The statute of limitations defines the period during which a legal claim can be
brought forward. Once this timeframe expires, the plaintiff loses the right to sue for that
specific incident. These limits vary by state and the type of injury involved in the case.
5. In a state following ‘Comparative Negligence’ rules, if a patient is found 20% responsible
for their injury, what happens to the award?
A. The patient receives nothing.
B. The award is reduced by 20%.
C. The patient receives the full award.
D. The physician is cleared of all charges.
Answer: B
