HLHS 105 / MEDL 101 Final Exam V3 |
HLHS 105 / MEDL 101 Medical Law &
Ethics | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(HLHS105/MEDL101 Final Exam) | Ivy Tech
Community College
1. Which legal doctrine holds that the employer is responsible for the actions of their
employees when performed within the course of employment?
A. Res ipsa loquitur
B. Stare decisis
C. Respondeat superior
D. Quid pro quo
Correct Answer: C
Respondeat superior is a Latin term meaning ‘let the master answer,’ which creates
vicarious liability for the employer. This principle ensures that patients have a clear path to
seek damages from a financially capable entity if an employee is negligent. In a clinical
setting, this means the physician or healthcare facility is usually named in a lawsuit
alongside the medical assistant or nurse.
2. A medical assistant discusses a patient’s lab results with a neighbor who is not authorized
to receive the information. Which intentional tort has been committed?
A. Fraud
,B. Defamation
C. Battery
D. Invasion of privacy
Correct Answer: D
Invasion of privacy involves the unauthorized disclosure of private information about a
patient to a third party. This specific act violates the patient’s right to confidentiality and is
a core concern under HIPAA regulations. Unlike defamation, it does not require the shared
information to be false, only that it was private and disclosed without consent.
3. Which of the following is considered one of the ‘Four Ds of Negligence’ required to prove a
malpractice case?
A. Documentation
B. Defamation
C. Diagnosis
D. Duty
Correct Answer: D
The four components of negligence are Duty, Dereliction (breach), Direct Cause, and
Damages. To successfully sue for malpractice, the plaintiff must prove that a physician-
patient relationship existed, establishing a specific legal obligation. Without establishing
this initial duty, the remaining three ‘Ds’ cannot be legally used to find the provider liable.
, 4. Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, what is the term for ‘individually identifiable health
information’ that is transmitted or maintained by electronic media?
A. TPO
B. EMR
C. NPP
D. PHI
Correct Answer: D
PHI stands for Protected Health Information and includes any data that can link a medical
condition or treatment to a specific individual. This encompasses names, social security
numbers, birth dates, and even biometric identifiers. HIPAA mandates strict controls over
who can access or transmit PHI to maintain patient confidentiality.
5. What is the primary purpose of the ‘Statute of Limitations’ in medical professional liability?
A. To limit the amount of money a patient can recover.
B. To outline the specific punishments for criminal negligence.
C. To prevent physicians from practicing in multiple states.
D. To define the period of time within which a person may file a lawsuit.
Correct Answer: D
The Statute of Limitations sets a legal deadline for the commencement of legal
proceedings after an alleged injury occurs. This varies by state but typically ranges from
HLHS 105 / MEDL 101 Medical Law &
Ethics | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(HLHS105/MEDL101 Final Exam) | Ivy Tech
Community College
1. Which legal doctrine holds that the employer is responsible for the actions of their
employees when performed within the course of employment?
A. Res ipsa loquitur
B. Stare decisis
C. Respondeat superior
D. Quid pro quo
Correct Answer: C
Respondeat superior is a Latin term meaning ‘let the master answer,’ which creates
vicarious liability for the employer. This principle ensures that patients have a clear path to
seek damages from a financially capable entity if an employee is negligent. In a clinical
setting, this means the physician or healthcare facility is usually named in a lawsuit
alongside the medical assistant or nurse.
2. A medical assistant discusses a patient’s lab results with a neighbor who is not authorized
to receive the information. Which intentional tort has been committed?
A. Fraud
,B. Defamation
C. Battery
D. Invasion of privacy
Correct Answer: D
Invasion of privacy involves the unauthorized disclosure of private information about a
patient to a third party. This specific act violates the patient’s right to confidentiality and is
a core concern under HIPAA regulations. Unlike defamation, it does not require the shared
information to be false, only that it was private and disclosed without consent.
3. Which of the following is considered one of the ‘Four Ds of Negligence’ required to prove a
malpractice case?
A. Documentation
B. Defamation
C. Diagnosis
D. Duty
Correct Answer: D
The four components of negligence are Duty, Dereliction (breach), Direct Cause, and
Damages. To successfully sue for malpractice, the plaintiff must prove that a physician-
patient relationship existed, establishing a specific legal obligation. Without establishing
this initial duty, the remaining three ‘Ds’ cannot be legally used to find the provider liable.
, 4. Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, what is the term for ‘individually identifiable health
information’ that is transmitted or maintained by electronic media?
A. TPO
B. EMR
C. NPP
D. PHI
Correct Answer: D
PHI stands for Protected Health Information and includes any data that can link a medical
condition or treatment to a specific individual. This encompasses names, social security
numbers, birth dates, and even biometric identifiers. HIPAA mandates strict controls over
who can access or transmit PHI to maintain patient confidentiality.
5. What is the primary purpose of the ‘Statute of Limitations’ in medical professional liability?
A. To limit the amount of money a patient can recover.
B. To outline the specific punishments for criminal negligence.
C. To prevent physicians from practicing in multiple states.
D. To define the period of time within which a person may file a lawsuit.
Correct Answer: D
The Statute of Limitations sets a legal deadline for the commencement of legal
proceedings after an alleged injury occurs. This varies by state but typically ranges from
