HLHS 105 / MEDL 101 Exam 3 V1 | HLHS
105 / MEDL 101 Medical Law & Ethics |
Actual Q&A with Rationale
(HLHS105/MEDL101 Exam 3) | Ivy Tech
Community College
1. Who is the legal owner of the physical medical record containing a patient’s clinical data?
A. The patient who paid for the services
B. The state department of health
C. The health insurance provider
D. The physician or the healthcare facility
Answer: D
Rationale: The physical documentation of a medical record is legally the property of the
provider or facility that created it. While the physician owns the physical or electronic
media, the patient retains the right to the information contained within the record. This
distinction is fundamental to medical law and governs how records are managed and
accessed.
2. Under the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA), what must hospitals provide to all adult
patients at the time of admission?
A. A comprehensive list of all potential medical errors
,B. A legally binding Last Will and Testament form
C. Written information regarding their right to make healthcare decisions
D. Guarantee of clinical success for all procedures
Answer: C
Rationale: The PSDA of 1990 requires healthcare facilities receiving Medicare and
Medicaid funding to inform patients of their rights to accept or refuse treatment. Patients
must also be informed of their right to formulate advanced directives such as living wills.
This federal mandate ensures that patient autonomy is respected during hospitalization
and long-term care.
3. Which legal doctrine allows a physician to withhold information from a patient if they
believe it would cause serious psychological harm?
A. Respondeat superior
B. Therapeutic privilege
C. Res ipsa loquitur
D. Locum tenens
Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic privilege is a narrow exception to the general rule of informed
consent where a doctor may withhold info if it poses a threat to the patient. However, this
doctrine is increasingly scrutinized by courts because it conflicts with patient autonomy. It
, should only be used in extreme cases where disclosure would significantly jeopardize the
patient’s health.
4. What is the primary difference between a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney for
Healthcare?
A. A living will is only for financial matters while a POA is for health
B. A living will specifies treatments, whereas a POA designates a decision-maker
C. A living will is legally binding in all states but a POA is not
D. A POA is only valid after the death of the patient
Answer: B
Rationale: A living will outlines specific medical treatments a person desires or wishes to
refuse in end-of-life scenarios. In contrast, a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
names a specific surrogate to make decisions when the patient is incapacitated. Both are
considered advanced directives, but they function through different mechanisms of
instruction and agency.
5. Which of the following is a key provision of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
(GINA)?
A. It mandates genetic testing for all newborns in the United States
B. It prevents researchers from using human stem cells in clinical trials
C. It allows insurance companies to raise premiums based on genetic risks
105 / MEDL 101 Medical Law & Ethics |
Actual Q&A with Rationale
(HLHS105/MEDL101 Exam 3) | Ivy Tech
Community College
1. Who is the legal owner of the physical medical record containing a patient’s clinical data?
A. The patient who paid for the services
B. The state department of health
C. The health insurance provider
D. The physician or the healthcare facility
Answer: D
Rationale: The physical documentation of a medical record is legally the property of the
provider or facility that created it. While the physician owns the physical or electronic
media, the patient retains the right to the information contained within the record. This
distinction is fundamental to medical law and governs how records are managed and
accessed.
2. Under the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA), what must hospitals provide to all adult
patients at the time of admission?
A. A comprehensive list of all potential medical errors
,B. A legally binding Last Will and Testament form
C. Written information regarding their right to make healthcare decisions
D. Guarantee of clinical success for all procedures
Answer: C
Rationale: The PSDA of 1990 requires healthcare facilities receiving Medicare and
Medicaid funding to inform patients of their rights to accept or refuse treatment. Patients
must also be informed of their right to formulate advanced directives such as living wills.
This federal mandate ensures that patient autonomy is respected during hospitalization
and long-term care.
3. Which legal doctrine allows a physician to withhold information from a patient if they
believe it would cause serious psychological harm?
A. Respondeat superior
B. Therapeutic privilege
C. Res ipsa loquitur
D. Locum tenens
Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic privilege is a narrow exception to the general rule of informed
consent where a doctor may withhold info if it poses a threat to the patient. However, this
doctrine is increasingly scrutinized by courts because it conflicts with patient autonomy. It
, should only be used in extreme cases where disclosure would significantly jeopardize the
patient’s health.
4. What is the primary difference between a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney for
Healthcare?
A. A living will is only for financial matters while a POA is for health
B. A living will specifies treatments, whereas a POA designates a decision-maker
C. A living will is legally binding in all states but a POA is not
D. A POA is only valid after the death of the patient
Answer: B
Rationale: A living will outlines specific medical treatments a person desires or wishes to
refuse in end-of-life scenarios. In contrast, a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
names a specific surrogate to make decisions when the patient is incapacitated. Both are
considered advanced directives, but they function through different mechanisms of
instruction and agency.
5. Which of the following is a key provision of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
(GINA)?
A. It mandates genetic testing for all newborns in the United States
B. It prevents researchers from using human stem cells in clinical trials
C. It allows insurance companies to raise premiums based on genetic risks
