HSC380 Ethics in Healthcare
Midterm Exam Review
(Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
,1. Case Scenario: In a clinical trial for an innovative cancer therapy, a
patient is enrolled without receiving a simplified explanation of the study
protocols and risks.
Question: Which ethical principle is most directly compromised when
a patient is not provided information in clear, lay terms?
- A. Non-maleficence
- B. Beneficence
- C. Respect for Autonomy
- D. Justice
Correct ANS: C. Respect for Autonomy
Rationale: Informed consent is a manifestation of respecting a
patient’s autonomy. When information is overly complex or not tailored
to the patient’s level of understanding, the patient’s ability to make an
informed decision is undermined.
2. Case Scenario: A 70-year-old patient with advanced dementia faces a
life-sustaining treatment decision. The patient’s previously expressed
wishes are known, but family members now insist on continuation of
treatment.
Question: Which decision-making standard should the healthcare
team primarily use?
- A. Best interest standard
- B. Substituted judgment
- C. Paternalism
- D. Utilitarian approach
Correct ANS: B. Substituted judgment
Rationale: The substituted judgment standard calls for the surrogate
decision-maker to make choices based on the patient’s previously
expressed values and preferences rather than family members’ current
wishes.
3. Case Scenario: During the informed consent process for a genetic
research study, potential participants are overwhelmed by excessive
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, technical details that obscure the essential risks and benefits.
Question: Which of the following modifications would most improve
the informed consent process?
- A. Providing additional research data
- B. Relying solely on written consent forms
- C. Using simplified language and clear summaries
- D. Delegating consent to a research coordinator only
Correct ANS: C. Using simplified language and clear summaries
Rationale: Simplifying the language helps ensure that participants
truly understand the intervention, risks, and benefits, thereby upholding
the ethical standard of informed consent.
4. Case Scenario: In the midst of a pandemic, an intensive care unit
(ICU) has limited beds available. The hospital must decide which patients
receive access to life-saving treatments based on projected survival and
recovery metrics.
Question: Which ethical principle principally supports these allocation
decisions?
- A. Beneficence
- B. Justice
- C. Autonomy
- D. Non-maleficence
Correct ANS: B. Justice
Rationale: Distributive justice focuses on the fair and equitable
allocation of scarce resources in which treatments are provided
according to defined medical criteria, such as likelihood of benefit.
5. Case Scenario: A hospital employs advanced data analytics to predict
patient risks without obtaining explicit consent to use personal health
information.
Question: Which ethical principle is most at risk in this scenario?
- A. Beneficence
- B. Non-maleficence
- C. Autonomy
- D. Justice
©2025
Midterm Exam Review
(Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
,1. Case Scenario: In a clinical trial for an innovative cancer therapy, a
patient is enrolled without receiving a simplified explanation of the study
protocols and risks.
Question: Which ethical principle is most directly compromised when
a patient is not provided information in clear, lay terms?
- A. Non-maleficence
- B. Beneficence
- C. Respect for Autonomy
- D. Justice
Correct ANS: C. Respect for Autonomy
Rationale: Informed consent is a manifestation of respecting a
patient’s autonomy. When information is overly complex or not tailored
to the patient’s level of understanding, the patient’s ability to make an
informed decision is undermined.
2. Case Scenario: A 70-year-old patient with advanced dementia faces a
life-sustaining treatment decision. The patient’s previously expressed
wishes are known, but family members now insist on continuation of
treatment.
Question: Which decision-making standard should the healthcare
team primarily use?
- A. Best interest standard
- B. Substituted judgment
- C. Paternalism
- D. Utilitarian approach
Correct ANS: B. Substituted judgment
Rationale: The substituted judgment standard calls for the surrogate
decision-maker to make choices based on the patient’s previously
expressed values and preferences rather than family members’ current
wishes.
3. Case Scenario: During the informed consent process for a genetic
research study, potential participants are overwhelmed by excessive
©2025
, technical details that obscure the essential risks and benefits.
Question: Which of the following modifications would most improve
the informed consent process?
- A. Providing additional research data
- B. Relying solely on written consent forms
- C. Using simplified language and clear summaries
- D. Delegating consent to a research coordinator only
Correct ANS: C. Using simplified language and clear summaries
Rationale: Simplifying the language helps ensure that participants
truly understand the intervention, risks, and benefits, thereby upholding
the ethical standard of informed consent.
4. Case Scenario: In the midst of a pandemic, an intensive care unit
(ICU) has limited beds available. The hospital must decide which patients
receive access to life-saving treatments based on projected survival and
recovery metrics.
Question: Which ethical principle principally supports these allocation
decisions?
- A. Beneficence
- B. Justice
- C. Autonomy
- D. Non-maleficence
Correct ANS: B. Justice
Rationale: Distributive justice focuses on the fair and equitable
allocation of scarce resources in which treatments are provided
according to defined medical criteria, such as likelihood of benefit.
5. Case Scenario: A hospital employs advanced data analytics to predict
patient risks without obtaining explicit consent to use personal health
information.
Question: Which ethical principle is most at risk in this scenario?
- A. Beneficence
- B. Non-maleficence
- C. Autonomy
- D. Justice
©2025
