Complete Exam Guide Subject-wise practice platform
0 XP
Behavioral Sciences and Biostatistics

Medical Ethics and Professional Behavior Practice Questions

20 free Medical Ethics and Professional Behavior practice questions for the USMLE Step 1. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.

Practice in Quiz Mode

Question 1 of 20 Medium

A competent patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. What is the physician’s most appropriate action?

  1. A Administer the transfusion to save the patient's life
  2. B Seek a court order to override the refusal
  3. C Respect and document the patient's informed refusal
  4. D Contact the patient's family to obtain consent

Correct answer: Respect and document the patient's informed refusal

Respecting autonomy means honoring a competent patient's informed refusal. The physician must document the discussion and decision.

Question 2 of 20 Medium

A physician tells a patient that a procedure has no risks, even though minor risks exist. Which ethical principle is violated?

  1. A Nonmaleficence
  2. B Veracity
  3. C Justice
  4. D Fidelity

Correct answer: Veracity

Veracity requires truthfulness in all communication. Withholding known risks violates this duty.

Question 3 of 20 Medium

A patient requests that the physician not disclose a cancer diagnosis to her family. What is the best response?

  1. A Inform the family because they deserve to know
  2. B Respect the patient's wishes
  3. C Ask the family first before deciding
  4. D Inform only the spouse

Correct answer: Respect the patient's wishes

Confidentiality requires that patient information be kept private unless the patient authorizes disclosure. The physician must honor the patient’s request.

Question 4 of 20 Medium

A physician gives extra time and care to well-insured patients while rushing through visits with uninsured patients. Which ethical principle is violated?

  1. A Justice
  2. B Beneficence
  3. C Autonomy
  4. D Fidelity

Correct answer: Justice

Justice requires treating patients fairly regardless of insurance or socioeconomic status. Preferential treatment violates this principle.

Question 5 of 20 Medium

A physician withholds treatment options because she assumes the patient cannot afford them. What principle does this violate?

  1. A Beneficence
  2. B Veracity
  3. C Autonomy
  4. D Justice

Correct answer: Autonomy

Autonomy requires providing all relevant information so the patient can make an informed decision. Withholding options limits autonomous choice.

Question 6 of 20 Medium

A surgeon discloses a surgical error to the patient and explains the next steps for management. Which ethical principle is demonstrated?

  1. A Beneficence
  2. B Fidelity
  3. C Justice
  4. D Nonmaleficence

Correct answer: Fidelity

Fidelity refers to loyalty, honesty, and keeping commitments to patients. Open disclosure of errors upholds professional integrity.

Question 7 of 20 Medium

A patient threatens to harm a specific individual. What is the physician’s most appropriate action?

  1. A Maintain full confidentiality regardless
  2. B Warn the intended victim and authorities
  3. C Do nothing unless actual harm occurs
  4. D Call the patient's family for guidance

Correct answer: Warn the intended victim and authorities

The duty to warn overrides confidentiality when a specific threat is made. Protecting potential victims is required.

Question 8 of 20 Medium

A patient refuses chemotherapy but consents to pain management and supportive care. Which type of decision-making is demonstrated?

  1. A Informed refusal
  2. B Paternalism
  3. C Therapeutic privilege
  4. D Substituted judgment

Correct answer: Informed refusal

Informed refusal occurs when patients decline treatment after understanding risks and benefits. They may still accept other supportive care.

Question 9 of 20 Medium

A physician accepts an expensive gift from a pharmaceutical representative. Which principle is at risk?

  1. A Confidentiality
  2. B Justice
  3. C Conflict of interest
  4. D Beneficence

Correct answer: Conflict of interest

Receiving valuable gifts may bias clinical decisions and represents a conflict of interest. Physicians should avoid situations that compromise objectivity.

Question 10 of 20 Medium

A patient lacks decision-making capacity. Which individual should guide medical decisions?

  1. A The patient's closest available friend
  2. B The legal surrogate decision-maker
  3. C The attending physician on call
  4. D The hospital ethics committee

Correct answer: The legal surrogate decision-maker

Legally appointed surrogates have priority in making decisions for incapacitated patients. They exercise substituted judgment.

Question 11 of 20 Medium

A patient asks the physician to make all medical decisions because he feels overwhelmed. What is the physician’s best response?

  1. A Decline and insist the patient must decide alone
  2. B Agree and make all decisions independently
  3. C Use shared decision-making to guide his choices
  4. D Ask the patient's family to decide instead

Correct answer: Use shared decision-making to guide his choices

Shared decision-making respects patient autonomy while providing support. The physician helps without assuming full control.

Question 12 of 20 Medium

A physician discloses a patient’s HIV status to the patient’s employer without permission. What principle is violated?

  1. A Nonmaleficence
  2. B Confidentiality
  3. C Fidelity
  4. D Autonomy

Correct answer: Confidentiality

Confidentiality prohibits sharing patient information without consent. Breaching this can harm the patient socially and emotionally.

Question 13 of 20 Medium

A patient demands antibiotics for a viral infection. The physician politely explains why they are not indicated. Which principle is demonstrated?

  1. A Autonomy
  2. B Nonmaleficence
  3. C Justice
  4. D Fidelity

Correct answer: Nonmaleficence

Nonmaleficence requires avoiding harmful or unnecessary treatments. Prescribing antibiotics when not indicated could cause harm.

Question 14 of 20 Medium

A patient with terminal illness expresses a desire to stop all life-prolonging treatments. What should the physician do?

  1. A Refuse because the treatments are medically appropriate
  2. B Honor the patient’s wishes after ensuring capacity
  3. C Seek a court order to continue treatment
  4. D Ask the family to overrule the patient

Correct answer: Honor the patient’s wishes after ensuring capacity

Patients with capacity can refuse life-prolonging treatment. Autonomy must be respected after a proper capacity assessment.

Question 15 of 20 Medium

A physician is concerned that a dementia patient is being financially exploited by a caregiver. What is the next best step?

  1. A Discuss the concerns privately with the patient
  2. B Report to adult protective services
  3. C Confront the suspected caregiver directly
  4. D Ignore it since there is no physical harm

Correct answer: Report to adult protective services

Physicians are required to report suspected abuse or exploitation. Adult protective services handle evaluations and interventions.

Question 16 of 20 Medium

A patient with schizophrenia refuses antipsychotic medication but is not a danger to himself or others. What is the appropriate action?

  1. A Force medication
  2. B Respect the refusal
  3. C Seek involuntary hospitalization
  4. D Consult the courts immediately

Correct answer: Respect the refusal

Competent patients, even with mental illness, may refuse treatment unless they pose imminent danger. Respecting autonomy is required.

Question 17 of 20 Medium

A physician unintentionally discloses a patient’s results to a visitor in the room without confirming the patient’s preferences. What was violated?

  1. A Autonomy
  2. B Confidentiality
  3. C Informed consent
  4. D Justice

Correct answer: Confidentiality

Confidentiality is breached when information is shared without explicit permission. Visitors should not receive information without authorization.

Question 18 of 20 Medium

A physician decides not to inform a patient about a poor prognosis because she thinks it will upset him. Which ethical error is occurring?

  1. A Therapeutic privilege
  2. B Paternalism
  3. C Justice
  4. D Fidelity

Correct answer: Paternalism

Paternalism involves overriding patient autonomy by withholding information. Patients must receive truthful information to make informed decisions.

Question 19 of 20 Medium

A resident notices an attending physician consistently documenting procedures that were not performed. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. A Ignore it to avoid workplace conflict
  2. B Report to the hospital compliance office
  3. C Confront the attending in front of others
  4. D Notify local law enforcement directly

Correct answer: Report to the hospital compliance office

Fraudulent documentation is a serious ethical and legal violation. Reporting through institutional channels ensures proper investigation.

Question 20 of 20 Medium

A patient insists on a treatment that the physician knows is ineffective and potentially harmful. What is the best response?

  1. A Provide the treatment to respect autonomy
  2. B Refuse and explain evidence-based reasoning
  3. C Seek approval from the ethics committee
  4. D Ask the family to decide instead

Correct answer: Refuse and explain evidence-based reasoning

Autonomy does not obligate physicians to provide harmful or ineffective treatments. Nonmaleficence requires refusing while explaining the reasoning.

0 / 20 answered