Radiography Prep Questions

The ASRT document that defines the radiographer's role is the: (A) Standards of Ethics (B) Practice Standards (C) Standard of Care (D) Legal Standards - CORRECT ANSWER-(B) Radiographers should be familiar with the Practice Standards published by the ASRT. The Standards provide a legal role definition and identify Clinical, Quality, and Professional Standards of practice - each Standard has its own rationale and identifies general and specific criteria related to that Standard. The student radiographer can access the individual standards, their rationale, and criteria on the ASRT website. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) establishes principles of professional conduct to ensure the best services possible to patients entrusted to our care. These principles are detailed in the ARRT two-part Standards of Ethics, which includes the Code of Ethics and the Rules of Ethics. The 10-part Code of Ethics is aspirational; the 22 Rules of Ethics are enforceable and their violation can result in professional sanction. Occurrences that can keep a radiography student from meeting ARRT certification requirements include: 1. being suspended from a radiography program 2. being dismissed/expelled from a radiography program 3. failing more than one course in his/her radiography program (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) 1 and 2 only (D) 1, 2, and 3 - CORRECT ANSWER-(C) Honor/integrity can only be achiever in an environment where intellectual honesty and personal integrity are highly valued, and where the responsibility for communicating and maintaining these standards is widely shared. In order to meet ARRT certification requirements, candidates for the ARRT examination must answer the question "Have you ever been suspended, dismissed, or expelled from an educational program that you attended in order to meet ARRT certification requirements?" in addition to reading and signing the "Written Consent under FERPA," allowing the ARRT to obtain special parts of their educational records concerning violations to an honor code. If the applicant answers "yes" to that question he/she must include an explanation and documentation of the situation with the complete application for certification. If the applicant has any doubts, he/she should contact the ARRT Ethics Requirements Department at (651) 687-0048, ext. 8580. Violations of the ARRT Rules of Ethics include 1. accepting responsibility to perform a function outside the scope of practice 2. failure to obtain pertinent information for the radiologist 3. failure to share newly acquired knowledge with peers (A) 1 only (B) 1 and 2 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2, and 3 - CORRECT ANSWER-(A) Accepting responsibility to perform a function outside the scope of practice is a violation of Ethical Rule #7, which states that it is a violation to "delegate or accept delegation of a radiologic technology function or any other prescribed health care function when the delegation or acceptance could reasonably be expected to create an unnecessary danger to a patient's life, health, or safety. Actual injury to a patient need not be established under this clause." So, accepting a responsibility outside the scope of practice is a violation of an ARRT rule. However, choices 2 and 3 are in violation of the aspirational Code of Ethics. Which organization has the authority to impose professional sanction on a radiographer? (A) ARRT (B) ASRT (C) JRCRT (D) TJC - CORRECT ANSWER-(A) The ARRT establishes principles of professional conduct to ensure the best services possible to patients entrusted to our care. These principles are detailed in the ARRT two-part Standards of Ethics, which includes the Code of Ethics and the Rules of Ethics. The 10-part Code of Ethics is aspirational; the 23 Rules of Ethics are enforceable and their violation can result in professional sanction. The ARRT Ethics Committee provides peer review of cases (misdemeanor, felony, etc.) to ensure adherence to standards of professional behavior and possession of the moral character required to practice in the health care professions. If the violator's actions demonstrate that moral character is lacking, that individual can be sanctioned - that is, reprimanded, suspended, revoked, ineligible for certification, and so on - or other sanctions deemed appropriate by the Ethics Committee A radiographer who discloses confidential information to unauthorized individuals may be found liable for (A) assault (B) battery (C) intimidation (D) defamation - CORRECT ANSWER-(D) A radiographer who discloses confidential information to unauthorized individuals may be found guilty of invasion of privacy or defamation. A radiographer whose disclosure of confidential information is in some way detrimental to the patient may be accused of defamation. Spoken defamation is libel. Assault is to threaten harm; battery is to carry out the threat. Patient's rights include the following: 1. the right to refuse treatment 2. the right to confidentiality 3. the right to possess one's medical records (A) 1 only (B) 1 and 2 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2, and 3 - CORRECT ANSWER-(B) The AHA identifies 12 important areas in its Patient's Bill of Rights. These include the right to refuse treatment (to the extend allowed by law), the right of confidentiality of records and communication, and the right to continuing care. Other patient rights identified are the right to informed consent, privacy, respectful care, access to personal medical records, refusal to participate in research projects, and an explanation of one's hospital bill. A radiographer who performs an x-ray examination on a patient without the patient's consent, or after the patient has refused the examination, may be liable for (A) assault (B) battery (C) slander (D) libel - CORRECT ANSWER-(B) Assault is to threaten harm; battery is to carry out the threat. A patient may feel sufficiently intimidated to claim assault by a radiographer who threatens to repeat a difficult examination if the patient does not try to cooperate better. A radiographer who performs an examination on a patient without the patient's consent or after the patient has refused the examination may be liable for battery. A charge of battery may also be made against a radiographer who treats a patient roughly or who performs an examination on the wrong patient. A radiographer who discloses confidential information to unauthorized individuals may be found liable for invasion of privacy or defamation. A radiographer whose disclosure of confidential information is in some way detrimental to the patient may be accused of defamation. Spoken defamation is slander; written defamation is libel. An individual's legal document identifying his/her specific wishes regarding medical care to be provided in the event that he/she is unable to make or communicate decisions is called: 1. advance health care directive 2. informed consent 3. last will and testament (A) 1 only (B) 1 and 2 only (C) 2 and 3 only (D) 1, 2, and 3 - CORRECT ANSWER-(A) Many people believe that potential legal and ethical issues can be avoided by creating an Advance Health Care Directive. Because all individuals have the right to make decisions regarding their own health care, this legal document preserves that right in the event an individual is unable to make or communicate those decisions. An Advance Health Care Directive lists the individual's specific wishes, names the individual authorized to make health care decisions, and can include specifics regarding DNR (do not resuscitate), DNI (do not intubate), and/or other end-of-life decisions. The legislation that guarantees confidentiality of all pt information is: (A) HSS (B) HIPAA (C) HIPPA (D) MQSA - CORRECT ANSWER-(B) Most institutions now have computerized, paperless systems for patient information transmittal (HIS); these systems must ensure confidentiality in compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 regulations. A health care professional generally has access to a computerized system only via a personal password, thus helping ensure confidentiality of pt information. All medical records and other individually identifiable health information, whether electronic, in paper, or oral, are covered by HIPAA legislation and by subsequent Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rules that took effect in April of 2001. If a pt lacks decision-making capacity, his/her rights can be exercised on his/her behalf by 1. designated surrogate 2. designated by proxy 3. no one (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) 1 and 2 only (D) 3 only - CORRECT ANSWER-(C) Pt's rights can be exercised on the pt's behalf by a designated surrogate or proxy decision maker if the pt lacks decision-making capacity, is legally incompetent, or is a minor. Many people believe that potential legal and ethical issues can be avoided by creating an Advance Health Care Directive or Living Will. Because all individuals have the right to make decisions regarding their own health care, this legal document preserves that right in the event an individual is unable to make those decisions. An Advance Health Care Directive or Living Will, names the individual authorized to make all health care decisions and can include a living will, giving specifics regarding DNR, DNI, and/or other end-of-life decisions. Which of the following communicate(s) messages to the patient?