Bioethics Practice Exam
When considering the duty not to lie to a patient and the duty to not cause needless
suffering to the patient, which method would W.D. Ross use to decide the more
stringent duty?
1. Intuition
2. Deductive Logic
3. Inductive Reasoning
4. Scientific Method - answer1. Intuition
Ross is generally regarded as the father of the intuitionist school of ethics.
To maintain the integrity of a clinical study, investigators do not tell participants if the
participants are receiving trWhen considering the duty not to lie to a patient and the duty
to not cause needless suffering to the patient, which method would W.D. Ross use to
decide the more stringent duty?
1. Intuition
2. Deductive Logic
3. Inductive Reasoning
4. Scientific Method - answer1. Intuition
Ross is generally regarded as the father of the intuitionist school of ethics.
To maintain the integrity of a clinical study, investigators do not tell participants if the
participants are receiving treatment of a placebo, thus creating a conflict with the usual
requirements for informed consent. Which moral principle would validate this action?
1. Principle of utility
2. Principle of justice
3. Principle of non maleficence
4. Principle of respect for autonomy. - answer1. Principle of utility.
The purpose of withholding information is to maximize the value of the study for future
patients. This is the focus of the principle of utility.
Tom Anderson, the new administrator of City Hospital, is about to conduct his first
meeting with the hospital's Board of Ethics. The other members of the 4-member board
are physician Brown, nurse Carter, and professional ethicist Dillon. Today's order of
buisiness is to determine the end-of-life treatment for four patients. Each board member
has one vote and three of four votes are necessary to justify euthanasia, so, before the
,meeting, Anderson decides to vote to discontinue all life-suppport measures for all four
patients.
The first case discussed concerns an older female patient, Easterly, for whom medical
intervention, both quantitative and qualitative, appears futile. Three of the four Board
members vote to disconnect Easterly's respirator. Only Brown votes no, arguing for
transferring her to a hospice.
The outcome of the next vote is also three to one in favor of discontinuing life-support
measures for the - answer1. The move to a hospice would cause more pain.
This uses a utilitarian principle to minimize the pain that results from our actions.
The children of a patient who is in a persistent vegetative state and dependent on a
ventilator want the ventilator removed because the patient's condition is causing them
great distress. Which course of action could best be supported by Kantian ethics?
1. It is not permissible to remove the ventilator only to benefit the patient's children.
2. It is not permissible to remove the ventilator for the purpose of respecting patient
autonomy.
3. It is permissible to remove the ventilator if it can be used to treat more worthy
patients.
4. It is permissible to remove the ventilator if the patient's children will greatly benefit
from it. - answer1. It is not permissible to remove the ventilator only to benefit the
patient's children.
Removing the ventilator to benefit the children would be unacceptable to a Kantian
because it would be using the patient as a means.
A physician discreetly moves his mother to the top of the list to receive a vaccine that is
in short supply. How is this action best described?
1. Displaying the virtue of honesty
2. Fulfilling his moral duty of fairness
3. Showing compassion for his patient
4. Experiencing a conflict among virtues - answer4. Experiencing a conflict among
virtues.
The physician is in a conflict between caring for his mother and for his other patients
who also require a vaccine.
Which patters of distribution of wealth would conform to Rawls's difference principle?
Distribution on the basis of promoting
,1. Merit
2. Effort
3. Potential contribution to society
4. The welfare of the least advantaged - answer4. The welfare of the least advantaged
This describes Rawls's difference principle.
How can treatment for AIDS be best improved for the African American community?
1. Improve the availability of medications
2. Establish greater credibility of the medical establishment
3. Improve AIDS testing for the community
4. Expand clinical trials for AIDS in the community - answer2. Establish greater
credibility of the medical establishment
This is the best way to encourage African Americans to be tested, take the appropriate
medications, and participate in clinical trials. This may happen through education and
producing more African American physicians.
In which Philosopher's ethical theory would the deceptive use of placebos always be
considered morally wrong?
1. Kant
2. MIll
3. John Rawls
4. W.D. Ross - answer1. Kant
Kant: placebo use involves withholding information from a patient/research subject. It is
morally illegitimate because it denies respect and dignity to which a person is entitled.
In Canada, which problem resulted from the decision to have most health services
covered for the entire population?
1. The system quickly became bankrupt
2. Services became severely overburdened
3. Disease prevention received less emphasis
4. Availability of higher cost services became limited - answer4. Availability of higher
cost services became limited.
Large scale availability of expensive technology and services because limited since
funds became limited and basic care became emphasized.
According to the Nuremberg Code, under which condition may a human subject
withdraw from a research project?
1. Whenever the subject so wishes
, 2. Whenever the subject's life circumstances change
3. When the subject feels continuation is impossible
4. When the subject believes that the subject has suffered harm - answer3. When the
subject feels continuation is impossible
This is Article 9 of the Principles of the Nuremberg Code
After Margaret Welby, a 71-year-old teacher, detects a lump in her right breast, her
primary care physician refers her to an oncologist. The oncologist, Dr. Hertz,
immediately orders a biopsy which shows a stage 3A malignancy. Hertz scolds
Margaret for waiting so long to have the lump checked and tells her that she must have
an immediate radical mastectomy. He also encourages her to participate in trials of a
new experimental for of chemotherapy from a company in which he is a consultant and
minor stockholder. He tells her that her participation may also help others but avoids
mentioning the very unpleasant side effects, or that 80% of the participants have, so far,
experienced no improvement. In addition, not all risks of the chemotherapy have been
identified. Hertz's nurse is aware of this but reluctantly decides not to interfere. The
doctor does tell Margaret that her chances for 5-year survival are about 30%, per -
answer3. She can become an experimental subject if Hertz feels it would benefit others
Rawls would say that is is never right to force or deceive anyone to be part of research,
His principles of justice apply only when liberty can be established and maintained.
Otherwise, justice becomes a general conception restricting liberties if done for the
benefit of all. Margaret does not want to participate but could be forced to under these
conditions, which creates a contradiction.
After Margaret Welby, a 71-year-old teacher, detects a lump in her right breast, her
primary care physician refers her to an oncologist. The oncologist, Dr. Hertz,
immediately orders a biopsy which shows a stage 3A malignancy. Hertz scolds
Margaret for waiting so long to have the lump checked and tells her that she must have
an immediate radical mastectomy. He also encourages her to participate in trials of a
new experimental for of chemotherapy from a company in which he is a consultant and
minor stockholder. He tells her that her participation may also help others but avoids
mentioning the very unpleasant side effects, or that 80% of the participants have, so far,
experienced no improvement. In addition, not all risks of the chemotherapy have been
identified. Hertz's nurse is aware of this but reluctantly decides not to interfere. The
doctor does tell Margaret that her chances for 5-year survival are about 30%, per -
answer3. Paternalism
The principle of Paternalism would allow someone else to make decisions for her if she
is unable to do so.
After Margaret Welby, a 71-year-old teacher, detects a lump in her right breast, her
primary care physician refers her to an oncologist. The oncologist, Dr. Hertz,
immediately orders a biopsy which shows a stage 3A malignancy. Hertz scolds
Margaret for waiting so long to have the lump checked and tells her that she must have
When considering the duty not to lie to a patient and the duty to not cause needless
suffering to the patient, which method would W.D. Ross use to decide the more
stringent duty?
1. Intuition
2. Deductive Logic
3. Inductive Reasoning
4. Scientific Method - answer1. Intuition
Ross is generally regarded as the father of the intuitionist school of ethics.
To maintain the integrity of a clinical study, investigators do not tell participants if the
participants are receiving trWhen considering the duty not to lie to a patient and the duty
to not cause needless suffering to the patient, which method would W.D. Ross use to
decide the more stringent duty?
1. Intuition
2. Deductive Logic
3. Inductive Reasoning
4. Scientific Method - answer1. Intuition
Ross is generally regarded as the father of the intuitionist school of ethics.
To maintain the integrity of a clinical study, investigators do not tell participants if the
participants are receiving treatment of a placebo, thus creating a conflict with the usual
requirements for informed consent. Which moral principle would validate this action?
1. Principle of utility
2. Principle of justice
3. Principle of non maleficence
4. Principle of respect for autonomy. - answer1. Principle of utility.
The purpose of withholding information is to maximize the value of the study for future
patients. This is the focus of the principle of utility.
Tom Anderson, the new administrator of City Hospital, is about to conduct his first
meeting with the hospital's Board of Ethics. The other members of the 4-member board
are physician Brown, nurse Carter, and professional ethicist Dillon. Today's order of
buisiness is to determine the end-of-life treatment for four patients. Each board member
has one vote and three of four votes are necessary to justify euthanasia, so, before the
,meeting, Anderson decides to vote to discontinue all life-suppport measures for all four
patients.
The first case discussed concerns an older female patient, Easterly, for whom medical
intervention, both quantitative and qualitative, appears futile. Three of the four Board
members vote to disconnect Easterly's respirator. Only Brown votes no, arguing for
transferring her to a hospice.
The outcome of the next vote is also three to one in favor of discontinuing life-support
measures for the - answer1. The move to a hospice would cause more pain.
This uses a utilitarian principle to minimize the pain that results from our actions.
The children of a patient who is in a persistent vegetative state and dependent on a
ventilator want the ventilator removed because the patient's condition is causing them
great distress. Which course of action could best be supported by Kantian ethics?
1. It is not permissible to remove the ventilator only to benefit the patient's children.
2. It is not permissible to remove the ventilator for the purpose of respecting patient
autonomy.
3. It is permissible to remove the ventilator if it can be used to treat more worthy
patients.
4. It is permissible to remove the ventilator if the patient's children will greatly benefit
from it. - answer1. It is not permissible to remove the ventilator only to benefit the
patient's children.
Removing the ventilator to benefit the children would be unacceptable to a Kantian
because it would be using the patient as a means.
A physician discreetly moves his mother to the top of the list to receive a vaccine that is
in short supply. How is this action best described?
1. Displaying the virtue of honesty
2. Fulfilling his moral duty of fairness
3. Showing compassion for his patient
4. Experiencing a conflict among virtues - answer4. Experiencing a conflict among
virtues.
The physician is in a conflict between caring for his mother and for his other patients
who also require a vaccine.
Which patters of distribution of wealth would conform to Rawls's difference principle?
Distribution on the basis of promoting
,1. Merit
2. Effort
3. Potential contribution to society
4. The welfare of the least advantaged - answer4. The welfare of the least advantaged
This describes Rawls's difference principle.
How can treatment for AIDS be best improved for the African American community?
1. Improve the availability of medications
2. Establish greater credibility of the medical establishment
3. Improve AIDS testing for the community
4. Expand clinical trials for AIDS in the community - answer2. Establish greater
credibility of the medical establishment
This is the best way to encourage African Americans to be tested, take the appropriate
medications, and participate in clinical trials. This may happen through education and
producing more African American physicians.
In which Philosopher's ethical theory would the deceptive use of placebos always be
considered morally wrong?
1. Kant
2. MIll
3. John Rawls
4. W.D. Ross - answer1. Kant
Kant: placebo use involves withholding information from a patient/research subject. It is
morally illegitimate because it denies respect and dignity to which a person is entitled.
In Canada, which problem resulted from the decision to have most health services
covered for the entire population?
1. The system quickly became bankrupt
2. Services became severely overburdened
3. Disease prevention received less emphasis
4. Availability of higher cost services became limited - answer4. Availability of higher
cost services became limited.
Large scale availability of expensive technology and services because limited since
funds became limited and basic care became emphasized.
According to the Nuremberg Code, under which condition may a human subject
withdraw from a research project?
1. Whenever the subject so wishes
, 2. Whenever the subject's life circumstances change
3. When the subject feels continuation is impossible
4. When the subject believes that the subject has suffered harm - answer3. When the
subject feels continuation is impossible
This is Article 9 of the Principles of the Nuremberg Code
After Margaret Welby, a 71-year-old teacher, detects a lump in her right breast, her
primary care physician refers her to an oncologist. The oncologist, Dr. Hertz,
immediately orders a biopsy which shows a stage 3A malignancy. Hertz scolds
Margaret for waiting so long to have the lump checked and tells her that she must have
an immediate radical mastectomy. He also encourages her to participate in trials of a
new experimental for of chemotherapy from a company in which he is a consultant and
minor stockholder. He tells her that her participation may also help others but avoids
mentioning the very unpleasant side effects, or that 80% of the participants have, so far,
experienced no improvement. In addition, not all risks of the chemotherapy have been
identified. Hertz's nurse is aware of this but reluctantly decides not to interfere. The
doctor does tell Margaret that her chances for 5-year survival are about 30%, per -
answer3. She can become an experimental subject if Hertz feels it would benefit others
Rawls would say that is is never right to force or deceive anyone to be part of research,
His principles of justice apply only when liberty can be established and maintained.
Otherwise, justice becomes a general conception restricting liberties if done for the
benefit of all. Margaret does not want to participate but could be forced to under these
conditions, which creates a contradiction.
After Margaret Welby, a 71-year-old teacher, detects a lump in her right breast, her
primary care physician refers her to an oncologist. The oncologist, Dr. Hertz,
immediately orders a biopsy which shows a stage 3A malignancy. Hertz scolds
Margaret for waiting so long to have the lump checked and tells her that she must have
an immediate radical mastectomy. He also encourages her to participate in trials of a
new experimental for of chemotherapy from a company in which he is a consultant and
minor stockholder. He tells her that her participation may also help others but avoids
mentioning the very unpleasant side effects, or that 80% of the participants have, so far,
experienced no improvement. In addition, not all risks of the chemotherapy have been
identified. Hertz's nurse is aware of this but reluctantly decides not to interfere. The
doctor does tell Margaret that her chances for 5-year survival are about 30%, per -
answer3. Paternalism
The principle of Paternalism would allow someone else to make decisions for her if she
is unable to do so.
After Margaret Welby, a 71-year-old teacher, detects a lump in her right breast, her
primary care physician refers her to an oncologist. The oncologist, Dr. Hertz,
immediately orders a biopsy which shows a stage 3A malignancy. Hertz scolds
Margaret for waiting so long to have the lump checked and tells her that she must have
