Test 1 Question 19. Which one of the following is not part of the ethics guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association?
It is unethical to accept a commission for patient referrals
It is unethical to have sexual relations with patients
It is a psychiatrist’s obligation to report other psychiatrist’s unethical behavior
Retiring psychiatrists must provide patients with sufficient notice of their retirement and make every reasonable effort to find follow-up care for their patients
Psychiatrists have an obligation to participate in executions
Test 1 Question 139. If you apply your abilities solely for the patient’s well-being, and do no harm to the patient, you are said to have:
Beneficence
Malignancy
Justice
Validity
Autonomy
Test 3 Question 87. You are hired by an employer to do a psychiatric evaluation on one of their employees. Which one of the following correctly represents the limits of confidentiality in this situation?
Your evaluation of the patient is confidential
Your evaluation of the patient is not confidential
The employer has a right to know the patient’s entire medical history
The patient can prevent you from disclosing any information obtained in this evaluation to the employer
The employer has a right to know only those elements of the patient’s condition that affect job performance
Test 3 Question 103. A patient is admitted to the hospital for suicidal behavior. The insurance company refuses to pay for the stay after the third day, and the patient is still suicidal. Which one of the following answer choices is the most ethical way to proceed?
Send the patient home because the insurance company refuses to pay
Secretly tell the patient to sign out against medical advice
Make the patient pay out of pocket, and if he or she can’t afford it, discharge him or her
Sue the insurance company
Continue to treat the patient as long as necessary, and file an appeal with the insurance company after discharge
Test 4 Question 75. Which one of the following choices is considered unethical by the American Psychiatric Association?
Closing a practice and finding follow-up care for your patients
Refusing to discuss a patient’s case with her family unless she gives you permission
Charging a colleague rent to sublet office space from you
A patient wills you his or her estate after death, and you accept and use the money for a new car
You charge a fee to supervise another psychiatrist
Test 5 Question 9. The obligation to act in the patient’s best interests is known as:
Fiduciary duty
Nonmalfeasance
Altruism
Parens patriae
Test 5 Question 21. Dr. Smith, a psychiatrist, has been having sexual fantasies about one of his psychotherapy patients. He tells you this and gives you several reasons the prohibition of sex with patients does not apply to this situation. Which of the following would be the most ethical advice you could give him?
He should continue to discuss the situation with colleagues to better define his sexual boundaries
He should see the patient more frequently to use the strong feelings between them as a motivational tool for positive change in therapy
He should share his fantasies with the patient
He should transfer the patient’s care to another psychiatrist
He should stock his desk with condoms so that if they have sex in his office she does not become pregnant
Test 5 Question 92. A television news program reports that a famous actress has been seen in public exhibiting verbal outbursts and unexplained violent behavior directed at people and property. A well-known psychiatrist appears on the program and, when asked about the actress, states she is probably suffering from bipolar disorder and possibly substance abuse. Which of the following best qualifies the ethics of the psychiatrist’s on-air affirmations?
It is ethical because the actress is a public figure
It is ethical unless there is a conflict of interest involved
It is unethical because the psychiatrist has never examined the actress
It is unethical because the psychiatrist was paid to appear on-air and make such statements
It is ethical because the psychiatrist is acting under the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the press
Test 5 Question 103. A schizophrenic patient asks his doctor to bill his insurance company as if he had an adjustment disorder instead of schizophrenia because he is concerned about the stigma that schizophrenics face. What should the doctor do?
Agree to bill for an adjustment disorder because the stigma is real
Kick the patient out of his or her practice and refuse to see him again
Explore the reasons behind the request and explain why this is something the doctor is not comfortable doing
Suggest the doctor bills the visit as psychotic disorder NOS (not otherwise specified) because, though it is not accurate, it is closer to the truth than adjustment disorder
Agree to bill as an adjustment disorder as long as the patient spends time exploring his feelings surrounding the request and his feelings about the diagnosis
Test 5 Question 116. Suzie goes to the ER with a pain in her right leg. Prior to initiating treatment the physician obtains informed consent. This is an example of which of the following ethical principles?
Competence
Nonmaleficence
Test 5 Question 146. Which one of the following situations is considered ethical behavior for a psychiatrist?
Having sex with a current patient
Noting romantic feelings between therapist and patient, then discontinuing therapy, and then beginning a sexual relationship
Transferring the case to another doctor, then waiting for 1 year, and then beginning a sexual relationship with the former patient
Taking on a new patient with whom you had been sexually involved several years ago, but are not currently
Never having sex with a patient or ex-patient, ever, under any circumstances
Test 6 Question 7. Which of the following would the American Psychiatric Association consider unethical?
Accepting a cup of coffee from a patient
Charging a patient for missed visits
Selling your used car to a patient
Releasing information about a patient to his or her insurance company
Maintaining a separate set of psychotherapy notes in addition to the medical record
Test 6 Question 35. Upon graduation from residency you start a new practice in your home town. You go to a local internist and a local psychologist and tell them that for every patient they refer you, you will pay them $100. This arrangement is:
Ethical because people need doctors and you need patients
Unethical because it puts the doctor’s interests ahead of the patient’s
Ethical because all parties involved benefit in some way
Ethical because the referring clinician is fairly compensated for the referral
Unethical because the primary care physician should know how to treat depression and should not need to refer to you
Test 6 Question 112. A psychotherapist you work with recently lost his teenage daughter in a car accident. He proceeded to tell all of his patients about this recent loss. This revelation to his patients is problematic because:
He should not reveal personal information to a patient
The only personal information he can reveal is his educational history
Openly sharing his grief will help his patients to understand him
It is driven by his personal needs rather than the needs of the patient
He should reveal this information only to patients who have also lost children
Test 6 Question 126. Jim is a pediatrician in a local hospital. He is trying to raise money to build a new treatment center for children with developmental disabilities. He asks you to solicit your patients for contributions. You should agree to solicit funds from:
Only former patients
No patients
Only wealthy patients because this is a good cause and they have money to give
Only patients with intact reality testing
Elderly patients who can leave a donation to the hospital in their will
Test 6 Question 128. A psychiatrist routinely receives free dinners, play tickets, and short trips from a pharmaceutical representative. Which of the following statements concerning this situation is correct?
There is no evidence that gifts influence physicians’ behavior
This situation represents a conflict of interest for the psychiatrist
This situation is ethical if no single gift is worth more than $500
Self-regulation by physicians is the most effective way to deal with this issue
Whereas doctors are not influenced by this behavior, support staff such as nurses, physicians’ assistants, and secretaries are
