Communication, Ethics and Workplace Safety in Health Care
This domain tests how you speak with patients and families, the ethical principles behind consent and confidentiality, and the safety routines that protect the worker.
Communication
- Use simple words, the patient's own language and teach-back; confirm understanding by asking them to repeat the instruction.
- Active listening: face the person, avoid interrupting, reflect back what you heard.
- Give information in a private place; involve family only with the patient's consent.
Ethics
- Four principles: autonomy (respect a competent patient's choice), beneficence (do good), non-maleficence (do no harm), justice (no discrimination by caste, religion, gender or HIV status).
- Take informed consent before procedures; document any refusal.
- Confidentiality: share information only with the treating team, never with neighbours or employers.
Workplace safety
- Needle-stick injury: wash with soap and running water, do not squeeze or suck the wound, apply antiseptic, report at once. HIV post-exposure prophylaxis is most effective within 2 hours and must start within 72 hours.
- Hepatitis B vaccination for all health workers; gloves for every contact with body fluids.
- Know the fire routine: raise the alarm, rescue, confine, evacuate.
Worked example
A patient with suspected tuberculosis refuses referral and asks you to tell no one. Reasoning: autonomy and confidentiality are respected - do not inform relatives or neighbours, but explain the risk to the household, offer counselling with his permission, document the refusal and inform the medical officer for follow-up. Tuberculosis is a notifiable disease, so public health reporting duties continue.
Traps that cost marks
- Discussing a diagnosis with a neighbour.
- Pressuring a competent adult to accept a procedure.
- Squeezing a needle-stick wound.
- Writing non-compliant in the record without documenting the counselling given.