Sample Question

EXPLANATION

A physician practicing in sports medicine may face a conflict of interest in that they owe a duty to the team as well as the patient-athlete (doctor-patient-team triad). Conflicts may also arise from various ethical principles. Here, while a duty is owed to the team, your decision should be based on the best medical interests of your patient (beneficence). Further, although you must respect the competent patient’s right to make their own healthcare decisions (autonomy), you cannot follow a course of action that you are reasonably certain will harm the patient (nonmaleficence). Finally, you must respect the patient’s right to healthcare information confidentiality. In this case, nonmaleficence supersedes autonomy regarding return to play. While the physician cannot force this patient to continue treatment, the physician cannot conscientiously clear him to return to play. The physician must, however, respect the patient’s right to healthcare information confidentiality and must not discuss it with the manager without the patient’s consent. The manager, however, may require the player to sign a waiver allowing you to discuss treatment with the manager.

The patient’s right to healthcare information confidentiality be respected; you cannot discuss the patient’s healthcare with the manager without their consent.

Despite being a student, this patient is of full age. As an adult, he has the right to withhold consent to divulge his healthcare information, even to his parents.

Overstating the consequences of not following medical advice is dishonest and goes beyond the bounds of acceptable paternalism.

Clearing him for return to play violates the ethical principle of nonmaleficence.