Professionalism, Ethics, and Communication
Ethical frameworks
Questions test informed consent, confidentiality, truthfulness, and the management of conflicts of interest. Know the elements of valid consent: capacity, disclosure, understanding, and voluntariness. Understand the difference between negligence and malpractice, and the importance of documentation. Communication questions test empathy, shared decision-making, and handling difficult conversations such as bad news or complaints.
Traps in question stems
A frequent trap is the answer that seems efficient but violates autonomy, such as proceeding without consent or withholding information to avoid distress. Questions may test whether to disclose an error; the ethical answer is disclosure and remediation. Another trap is confusing what is legal with what is ethical. Watch for questions about social media, patient privacy, and advertising claims.
Rule of thumb
Use the "would I be comfortable defending this in a formal review" test. If the action requires hiding information or bypassing the patient's choice, it is likely wrong.
Worked example
A patient asks about a treatment complication you caused. The correct response is honest disclosure, apology, and a plan for remediation, documented in the record, not avoidance.