Legal Principles

(M1.ST.17.4766) A 44-year-old female patient comes to the physician’s office with her husband with complaints of abdominal pain. For the past 4 months, she has experienced cramping right upper quadrant pain that starts after meals. The physician performs a right upper quadrant ultrasound that shows round echogenic masses in the gallbladder. The physician offers an elective cholecystectomy to the patient to improve her symptoms and explains the procedure in detail to the patient including potential risks and complications. The patient acknowledges and communicates her understanding of her diagnosis as well as the surgery and decides to proceed with the surgery in one month. The patient signs a form indicating her consent to this procedure. Which of the following must also be communicated to the patient at this time?

(M1.ST.15.73) A 43-year-old male is admitted to the hospital for a left leg cellulitis. He is being treated with clindamycin and is recovering nicely. On the second day of his admission, a nurse incorrectly administers 100 mg of metoprolol which was intended for another patient with the same last name. The error is not discovered until the next day, at which time it is clear that the patient has suffered no ill effects of the medication and is not aware that an error has occurred. What is the proper course of action of the attending physician?

(M1.ST.15.74) A 33-year-old man is brought by ambulance to the emergency room after being a passenger in a motor vehicle accident. An empty bottle of whiskey was found in his front seat, and the patient admits to having been drinking all night. He has multiple lacerations and bruising on his face and scalp and a supportive cervical collar is placed. He is endorsing a significant headache and starts vomiting in the emergency room. His vitals, however, are stable, and he is transported to the CT scanner. While there, he states that he does not want to have a CT scan and asks to be released. What is the most appropriate course of action?

(M1.ST.15.73) A 76-year-old Spanish speaking male comes to the health clinic with his daughter for a routine health maintenance visit. The physician speaks only basic Spanish and is concerned about communicating directly with the patient. The patient's daughter is fluent in both English and Spanish and offers to translate. The clinic is very busy, but there are usually Spanish medical interpreters available. What is the best course of action for the physician?

(M1.ST.15.73) A 17-year-old girl comes to your outpatient clinic. She is sexually active with multiple partners and requests a prescription for oral contraceptive pills. A urine pregnancy test in your office is negative. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?

(M1.ST.15.73) A 73-year-old man presents to his primary care physician endorsing 4-5 days of decreased urinary output and mild shortness of breath. He has a complex medical history, including uncontrolled diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage emphysema. It is determined that his kidney disease has progressed to the point of needing dialysis, which his primary care physician feels should be initiated promptly. However, the patient remarks, "I would never want dialysis. I have friends who went through it, and it sounds awful. I would rather die comfortably, even if that is soon." After the physician explains what dialysis is, and the risks and alternatives to the procedure the patient is able to demonstrate his understanding of dialysis including the risks, benefits and alternatives. He appears to be in no distress and demonstrates a clear understanding. After discussing the patient's wishes further, which of the following is the most appropriate response on the part of the physician?

(M1.ST.15.41) An 86-year-old male is admitted to the hospital under your care for management of pneumonia. His hospital course has been relatively uneventful, and he is progressing well. While making morning rounds on your patients, the patient's cousin approaches you in the hallway and asks about the patient's prognosis and potential future discharge date. The patient does not have an advanced directive on file and does not have a medical power of attorney. Which of the following is the best course of action?

(M1.ST.15.11) A 32-year-old male asks his physician for information regarding a vasectomy. On further questioning, you learn that he and his wife have just had their second child and he asserts that they no longer wish to have additional pregnancies. You ask him if he has discussed a vasectomy with his wife to which he replies, "Well, not yet, but I'm sure she'll agree." What is the next appropriate step prior to scheduling the patient's vasectomy?

(M1.ST.14.19) A 40-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital about four hours after her husband discovered that she ingested a bottle of acetaminophen in an attempted suicide. The patient denies any symptoms at this time. Vital signs include a blood pressure of 115/80 mmHg and pulse of 85/min. Physical exam is unremarkable. AST and ALT levels are approximately 2500 U/L. APAP level is 160 mcg/mL, and INR is 1.7. The patient refuses N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) treatment. What is the best next step in management?

(M1.ST.14.83) A 29-year-old man develops dysphagia after sustaining a stroke secondary to a patent foramen ovale. He is only able to swallow thin liquids. He has lost 10 pounds because of limited caloric intake. The medical team recommends the placement of a feeding tube, but the patient declines. The patient also has a history of major depressive disorder with psychotic features, for which he has been treated with fluoxetine. He is alert and oriented to person, place, time and situation. He denies any visual or auditory hallucinations, suicidal ideation, guilt, or sadness. He can articulate to the team the risks of not placing a feeding tube, including aspiration, malnutrition, and even death, after discussion with his medical team. The medical team wishes to place the feeding tube because the patient lacks capacity given his history of major depressive disorder with psychotic features. Which of the following is true regarding this situation?

(M1.ST.14.51) A 2-week-old infant is brought to the pediatrician for the first time by his parents. His mother received regular prenatal care and the child was born at home under the guidance of a midwife and a doula. The child appears well. The parents tell you they do not plan to have their child receive any vaccines. After a discussion regarding the risks and benefits of vaccines, the parents are still adamant in their wishes to forgo. Which of the following is the most appropriate course of action?

(M1.ST.13.10) A patient is unresponsive in the emergency department following a motor vehicle accident. The patient's written advance directive states that he does not wish to be resuscitated in the event of a cardiac arrest. The patient's wife arrives and demands that "everything" be done to keep him alive because she "can't go on living without him." The patient's adult son is on his way to the hospital. If the patient arrests, which of the following should occur?

(M1.ST.13.5) On physical examination and imaging, a 3-year-old male shows evidence of multiple healed fractures and bruising. On eye exam, the child's irises appear blue, and results of a fundoscopic exam are shown in Image A. What is the most appropriate next step in the care of this patient?

(M1.ST.13.24) You are a resident on a pediatric service entering orders late at night. Upon arrival the next morning, you note that you had mistakenly ordered that low molecular weight heparin be administered to a 17-year-old patient who does not need anti-coagulation. When you talk to her, she complains about the "shot" she had to get this morning but is otherwise well. How should you handle the situation?

(M1.ST.13.39) A 79-year-old male presents to your office for his annual flu shot. On physical exam you note several linear bruises on his back. Upon further questioning he denies abuse from his daughter and son-in-law, who live in the same house. The patient states he does not want this information shared with anyone. What is the most appropriate next step, paired with its justification?

(M1.ST.13.12) You are the attending physician on duty on an inpatient hospitalist team. A 48-year-old patient with a history of COPD and atrial fibrillation on warfarin is admitted to your service for management of a COPD exacerbation. Four days into her admission, routine daily lab testing shows that patient has an INR of 5. She is complaining of blood in her stool. The bleeding self-resolves and the patient does not require a transfusion. Review of the medical chart shows that the patient's nurse accidentally gave the patient three times the dose of warfarin that was ordered. What is the correct next step?