WGU D909 HEALTHCARE LAW AND ETHICS OA
– COMPLETE 100-QUESTION PRACTICE BANK
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS (2026/2027
ACADEMIC YEAR) | COVERING ALL FOUR
DOMAINS
SECTION 1: LEGISLATIVE AND LEGAL SYSTEMS
1. A healthcare provider is accused of practicing medicine without a valid
license. This violation would be prosecuted under which type of law?
• A) Civil law
• B) Criminal law
• C) Tort law
• D) Contract law
Answer: B) Criminal law
Rationale: Practicing without a license is a criminal offense because it violates
state statutes designed to protect public safety.
2. The legislative branch creates a new statute requiring all healthcare facilities
to report certain infectious diseases to public health authorities. This is an
example of:
• A) Common law
• B) Statutory law
• C) Constitutional law
• D) Administrative law
Answer: B) Statutory law
Rationale: Statutory law is written law emanating from federal and state
legislative bodies.
3. Constitutional law in healthcare is based on:
• A) Court decisions
• B) Legislative statutes
• C) The U.S. Constitution and state constitutions
• D) Administrative agency regulations
Answer: C) The U.S. Constitution and state constitutions
Rationale: Constitutional law establishes the framework for government and
, guarantees fundamental rights, including patient privacy, due process, and
freedom of religion.
4. Administrative law in healthcare is created by:
• A) The legislative branch
• B) The judicial branch
• C) Government agencies
• D) Private accrediting bodies
Answer: C) Government agencies
Rationale: Administrative law is issued by administrative agencies like HHS,
CMS, and OSHA to direct the enacted laws of federal and state governments.
5. The four "Ds" of medical negligence are:
• A) Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, Damages
• B) Duty, Deviation, Direct Cause, Damages
• C) Duty, Dereliction, Defamation, Damages
• D) Duty, Deviation, Defamation, Damages
Answer: A) Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, Damages
Rationale: The four Ds—duty, dereliction (breach), direct cause (causation),
and damages—are the elements required to prove negligence.
6. Which of the following is NOT a source of law?
• A) Constitutional law
• B) Statutory law
• C) Administrative law
• D) Ethical law
Answer: D) Ethical law
Rationale: Ethics are moral principles, not legally binding sources of law.
Sources of law include constitutional, statutory, administrative, and common
law.
7. Common law is also known as:
• A) Judge-made law
• B) Legislative law
• C) Regulatory law
• D) Constitutional law
Answer: A) Judge-made law
Rationale: Common law evolves from judicial decisions and court rulings.
8. A tort is defined as:
• A) A criminal offense against society
, • B) A civil wrong, other than a breach of contract, committed against a person
or property
• C) A violation of administrative regulations
• D) A breach of a contractual agreement
Answer: B) A civil wrong, other than a breach of contract, committed
against a person or property
Rationale: Tort law provides a remedy in the form of an action for damages.
9. Which type of law governs contracts between healthcare providers and
insurance companies?
• A) Criminal law
• B) Tort law
• C) Contract law
• D) Administrative law
Answer: C) Contract law
Rationale: Contract law governs legally binding agreements between parties.
10. The doctrine of respondeat superior holds that:
• A) Employers are liable for the acts of their employees performed within the
scope of employment
• B) Healthcare providers are immune from malpractice suits
• C) Patients cannot sue for medical negligence
• D) Physicians are only liable for their own actions
Answer: A) Employers are liable for the acts of their employees
performed within the scope of employment
SECTION 2: ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND THEORIES
11. The four primary principles of biomedical ethics are:
• A) Autonomy, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Justice
• B) Autonomy, Confidentiality, Veracity, Fidelity
• C) Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Justice, Veracity
• D) Autonomy, Justice, Fidelity, Confidentiality
Answer: A) Autonomy, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Justice
12. The ethical principle of autonomy refers to:
• A) The duty to do good
• B) The duty to do no harm
• C) The right of a person to make one's own decisions
– COMPLETE 100-QUESTION PRACTICE BANK
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS (2026/2027
ACADEMIC YEAR) | COVERING ALL FOUR
DOMAINS
SECTION 1: LEGISLATIVE AND LEGAL SYSTEMS
1. A healthcare provider is accused of practicing medicine without a valid
license. This violation would be prosecuted under which type of law?
• A) Civil law
• B) Criminal law
• C) Tort law
• D) Contract law
Answer: B) Criminal law
Rationale: Practicing without a license is a criminal offense because it violates
state statutes designed to protect public safety.
2. The legislative branch creates a new statute requiring all healthcare facilities
to report certain infectious diseases to public health authorities. This is an
example of:
• A) Common law
• B) Statutory law
• C) Constitutional law
• D) Administrative law
Answer: B) Statutory law
Rationale: Statutory law is written law emanating from federal and state
legislative bodies.
3. Constitutional law in healthcare is based on:
• A) Court decisions
• B) Legislative statutes
• C) The U.S. Constitution and state constitutions
• D) Administrative agency regulations
Answer: C) The U.S. Constitution and state constitutions
Rationale: Constitutional law establishes the framework for government and
, guarantees fundamental rights, including patient privacy, due process, and
freedom of religion.
4. Administrative law in healthcare is created by:
• A) The legislative branch
• B) The judicial branch
• C) Government agencies
• D) Private accrediting bodies
Answer: C) Government agencies
Rationale: Administrative law is issued by administrative agencies like HHS,
CMS, and OSHA to direct the enacted laws of federal and state governments.
5. The four "Ds" of medical negligence are:
• A) Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, Damages
• B) Duty, Deviation, Direct Cause, Damages
• C) Duty, Dereliction, Defamation, Damages
• D) Duty, Deviation, Defamation, Damages
Answer: A) Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, Damages
Rationale: The four Ds—duty, dereliction (breach), direct cause (causation),
and damages—are the elements required to prove negligence.
6. Which of the following is NOT a source of law?
• A) Constitutional law
• B) Statutory law
• C) Administrative law
• D) Ethical law
Answer: D) Ethical law
Rationale: Ethics are moral principles, not legally binding sources of law.
Sources of law include constitutional, statutory, administrative, and common
law.
7. Common law is also known as:
• A) Judge-made law
• B) Legislative law
• C) Regulatory law
• D) Constitutional law
Answer: A) Judge-made law
Rationale: Common law evolves from judicial decisions and court rulings.
8. A tort is defined as:
• A) A criminal offense against society
, • B) A civil wrong, other than a breach of contract, committed against a person
or property
• C) A violation of administrative regulations
• D) A breach of a contractual agreement
Answer: B) A civil wrong, other than a breach of contract, committed
against a person or property
Rationale: Tort law provides a remedy in the form of an action for damages.
9. Which type of law governs contracts between healthcare providers and
insurance companies?
• A) Criminal law
• B) Tort law
• C) Contract law
• D) Administrative law
Answer: C) Contract law
Rationale: Contract law governs legally binding agreements between parties.
10. The doctrine of respondeat superior holds that:
• A) Employers are liable for the acts of their employees performed within the
scope of employment
• B) Healthcare providers are immune from malpractice suits
• C) Patients cannot sue for medical negligence
• D) Physicians are only liable for their own actions
Answer: A) Employers are liable for the acts of their employees
performed within the scope of employment
SECTION 2: ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND THEORIES
11. The four primary principles of biomedical ethics are:
• A) Autonomy, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Justice
• B) Autonomy, Confidentiality, Veracity, Fidelity
• C) Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Justice, Veracity
• D) Autonomy, Justice, Fidelity, Confidentiality
Answer: A) Autonomy, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Justice
12. The ethical principle of autonomy refers to:
• A) The duty to do good
• B) The duty to do no harm
• C) The right of a person to make one's own decisions
