Medical Ethics Quiz

Key Legal Doctrines in Healthcare

• Doctrine of Foreseeability: Evaluates the predictability of an action causing injury.
• Doctrine of Reasonable Man: Patients expect professional and technical personnel to perform duties to the standards of similarly qualified individuals under comparable situations.
• Doctrine of Borrowed Servant: An employer is not liable for an employee's actions when that employee is directed by another authority.
• Respondeat Superior: Employers are accountable for their employees' actions and failures during the course of their employment.

Ethical Principles in Medicine

• Aeger Primo: Emphasizes prioritizing the patient; guiding motto of the Association of Surgical Technologists.
• Primum Non Nocere: "First, do no harm"; core principle of Hippocratic medical ethics promoting patient safety.
• Hippocratic Ethics: Physicians adhere to high moral standards and ethical conduct while practicing medicine.

Negligence and Safety Events

• Negligence: The absence of reasonable care which a prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances.
• Sentinel Event: An unforeseen incident in healthcare leading to significant injury or death, unrelated to the patient’s illness.

Analysis and Professional Standards

• Root Cause Analysis: Identifies underlying factors contributing to variation in performance and sentinel events; emphasizes systemic issues rather than individual mistakes.
• Ethics: Framework governing how individuals should conduct themselves, emphasizing integrity and values in healthcare.
• Standards of Professional Practice: Guidelines for quality assurance, education, ethical behavior, and accountability established by each medical facility to ensure patient care and safety; adherence is mandatory to minimize litigation risks.

Effective Listening Skills

• Avoid distractions by not letting the mind wander or rehearsing responses while listening.
• Paraphrasing involves summarizing the speaker's message in your own words to confirm understanding.
• For complex messages, take notes to aid in recalling and paraphrasing accurately later.

Communication Objectives

• Goals include providing and obtaining information, expressing feelings, solving problems, and ensuring patient safety.
• Effective communication is essential for teamwork and preventing errors in the operating room.

Importance of Communication in Surgery

• Communication is fundamental for providing continuity in patient care.
• Patients need to express emotional and physical feelings; both spoken and unspoken cues must be recognized.
• Effective communication can significantly influence patient behavior and attitudes towards healthcare.

Therapeutic Communication Techniques

• Use broad opening statements and general leads to facilitate discussion.
• Share observations and acknowledge patient feelings to create a supportive environment.
• Employ techniques like selective reflecting, silence, and clarifying to ensure understanding.

Blocks to Effective Communication

• Hasty judgments, use of clichés, unsolicited advice, and silencing a patient’s concerns may hinder therapeutic communication.

Communication Means and Requirements

• Two primary forms: verbal (oral, written) and nonverbal communication.
• Surgical team members should communicate professionally using appropriate medical terminology and actively listen.

Essential Components of Communication

• Involves four critical components: sender, message, receiver, and feedback.

Conflict Management in the Workplace

• Recognize that conflict is normal, stemming from differing opinions and poor communication.
• Policies must address conflict resolution among team members; training is essential to ensure staff understand these protocols.
• Create a safe environment for discussing conflicts, focusing on solutions rather than individuals involved. Brainstorming collaboratively can lead to beneficial outcomes.

Test your knowledge on key medical ethical principles, including the Doctrine of Foreseeability and the Doctrine of the Reasonable Man. This quiz covers important concepts relevant to surgical technology and patient rights. Perfect for students and professionals in the medical field.