Medical law and ethics is 7 of the 150 scored items on the NHA CCMA. Answer 10 exam style questions on torts, negligence and advance directives and see exactly which concepts would cost you points on test day.
Start the 10 questions →Which type of law governs disputes between private parties, such as a malpractice suit?
These questions cover types of law, torts, negligence, legal doctrines and intentional torts. Each one shows the correct answer and why every other option is wrong, so a miss tells you exactly what to review before the CCMA.
Prefer to read first? Every question from the practice set above, with the correct answer and why each wrong option is wrong.
Answer: C. Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organizations, usually resolved with monetary damages. Medical malpractice suits are civil actions.
Why not A: Constitutional law concerns government powers and rights, not private disputes.
Why not B: Military law applies to armed forces.
Why not D: Criminal law involves offenses against the public, prosecuted by the government.
Exam tactic: Private dispute = civil.
Answer: B. A tort is a civil wrong (other than breach of contract) that causes harm, for which the injured party may seek damages. Torts may be intentional or unintentional (negligence).
Why not A: Licenses are not torts.
Why not C: A contract is an agreement, not a tort.
Why not D: Torts are civil, though some acts may also be crimes.
Exam tactic: Tort = civil wrong.
Answer: B. Nonfeasance is the failure to perform an act that should have been performed, such as not ordering a clearly indicated test.
Why not A: Malfeasance is doing an unlawful act.
Why not C: Battery is unauthorized touching.
Why not D: Misfeasance is doing a proper act improperly.
Exam tactic: Failure to act = nonfeasance.
Answer: B. Res ipsa loquitur applies when the injury would not normally occur without negligence and the cause was under the defendant's control, allowing negligence to be inferred, often without expert testimony.
Why not A: Locum tenens is a temporary substitute provider.
Why not C: Respondeat superior makes employers liable for employees.
Why not D: Res judicata bars re-trying a decided case.
Exam tactic: Obvious error = res ipsa loquitur.
Answer: A. Defamation is a false statement damaging someone's reputation. Spoken defamation is slander; written defamation is libel. Disclosing PHI also violates confidentiality.
Why not B: Battery is unauthorized touching.
Why not C: Abandonment is ending care without notice.
Why not D: Libel is written defamation.
Exam tactic: Slander = spoken; libel = written.
Answer: D. A patient leaving against medical advice (AMA) is informed of the risks by the provider, and this is documented along with a signed AMA form if the patient agrees to sign.
Why not A: Restraint would be false imprisonment.
Why not B: Detaining a competent patient is unlawful.
Why not C: Failure to document leaves no record of the informed refusal.
Exam tactic: Inform, document, AMA form.
Answer: A. Licensure is a mandatory government credential required to practice certain professions. Certification is generally a voluntary credential from a professional organization showing competence, though employers or some states may require it.
Why not B: States, not employers, grant licenses.
Why not C: They are different credentials.
Why not D: Certification is generally not federally mandated.
Exam tactic: License = state permission; certification = credential.
Answer: C. The Patient Self-Determination Act (1990) requires many facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding to inform patients of their rights to make decisions and create advance directives.
Why not A: The OSH Act addresses workplace safety.
Why not B: The ADA prohibits disability discrimination.
Why not D: HIPAA addresses privacy and portability.
Exam tactic: Advance directive rights = PSDA.
Answer: D. The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, adopted in some form by the states, allows people to donate organs and tissues after death and sets rules for consent.
Why not A: Good Samaritan laws protect emergency helpers.
Why not B: The CSA regulates controlled drugs.
Why not C: The Stark Law addresses physician self-referral.
Exam tactic: Organ donation = Anatomical Gift Act.
Answer: A. Veracity is the principle of truthfulness and honesty with patients.
Why not B: Fidelity is keeping promises and being loyal.
Why not C: Justice is fairness.
Why not D: Nonmaleficence is avoiding harm.
Exam tactic: Veracity = truth.
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