Ethics, Professionalism, and Practice Management
Ethical foundations
Understand the core principles - autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice - and how they apply to informed consent, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest. Know the requirements for valid informed consent, including discussion of alternatives, risks, and the patient's right to refuse. Understand the management of minors and the role of parents or guardians.
Professionalism and practice
Know the elements of professional communication, record keeping, and referral. Understand the basics of practice management: scheduling, staffing, financial arrangements, and marketing ethics. Know the obligations around continuing education and scope of practice.
Traps
Questions often test whether you can identify a boundary violation or a conflict of interest, or whether you know that consent for a minor requires the guardian but the minor's assent should still be sought. Another trap is confusing marketing with patient education.
Worked example
A parent asks you to begin treatment on a child who is anxious and does not want treatment. Rule of thumb: obtain informed consent from the guardian and assent from the child; proceeding against the child's clear refusal warrants further discussion and possibly delay.