Health Law and Medical Ethics
Health Law and Medical Ethics tests consent, confidentiality, capacity, negligence, mandatory reporting, resource allocation, and professional boundaries. The exam expects principled reasoning in gray areas.
Core rules
- Informed consent: explain diagnosis, proposed treatment, alternatives, risks, and consequences; document the discussion.
- Capacity: assess understanding, appreciation, reasoning, and expression of choice; capacity is decision-specific.
- Confidentiality: disclose only with consent or a lawful exception; discuss with family only with patient agreement when capable.
- Emergency exception: treat to prevent serious harm when consent cannot be obtained, then document.
Worked example
An unconscious trauma patient needs emergency surgery and no family member is present. Proceed under the emergency exception, documenting the necessity and attempts to contact relatives. Reasoning: the law permits urgent treatment when delay would risk life or serious harm, but documentation and later communication are required.
Traps
- Disclosing diagnosis to relatives before asking the patient.
- Treating a capable adult without consent.
- Assuming incapacity because of disagreement.
- Failing to report legally notifiable conditions or suspected abuse.