EBCOG PART 1 – RESEARCH, ETHICS, CONSENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT

1. With reference to the Abortion Act 1967 (revised in 1991):

A Abortion is legal in Northern Ireland

B It is readily available on request at general practitioner centres

C It can be done if there is substantial risk that if the child were born, it would suffer such physical and mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped

D It can be done after 24 weeks of pregnancy if the risk of continuation is greater than if the pregnancy was terminated, because of the possible physical and mental health effects to the pregnant woman

E It can be done if termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to physical and mental health of the partner

2. With regards to the basis of valid consent:

A It rests on the principle of patient autonomy

B The patient should be competent

C The doctor should provide adequate information to a competent patient

D The patient should understand the information

E The patient should make a decision voluntarily

3. Regarding minors (<18 years) and consent under English law:

A Sixteen to seventeen year olds are presumed to have the capacity to give consent to medical procedures

B Children under 16 years of age are presumed not to have the capacity to consent unless a health professional’s assessment declares otherwise

C For children aged under 13 years, the person with parental responsibility can give consent

D If a patient under 16 years of age refuses consent, those with parental responsibility or a court can give consent if it is in the patient’s best interest

E If the parent refuses to give consent to the procedure that a doctor strongly believes is in the best interest of the patient, the doctor should involve the courts

4. The following are examples where doctors may breach confidentiality to specific authorities:

A Child protection

B Under court orders

C Notifiable disease

D Identification of donors and recipients of transplanted organs

E Medical conditions affecting the ability to drive

5. Regarding the Access to Health Records Act 1990:

A It gives patients the general right to see medical records

B It gives patients the general right to request and obtain copies of these records

C It applies to medical records made after 1 November 1995

D Doctors should provide copies of records for patients within 21 days

E Doctors should provide copies of records for patients within 40 days for records >40 days old

6. The Mental Capacity Act is underpinned by five key principles:

A A presumption of capacity

B The right for individuals to be supported in order to make their own decisions

C The right to make what might be seen as an unwise decision

D Any decision taken must be done in the individual’s best interest

E Any decision taken should be as unrestrictive of the individual’s basic rights and freedom as possible

7. Appraisal is a process:

A To give doctors feedback on their past performance

B To chart doctors’ continuing progress

C To identify developmental and educational needs

D To criticise doctors about their current performance

E To highlight mistakes made in the past

8. The following are aims of risk management:

A To reduce the frequency of adverse events

B To promote reflective practice

C To reduce the chance of a claim

D To improve quality of life

E To improve one’s curriculum vitae

9. The following are true with regards to the termination of a pregnancy:

A Abortion can only be offered up to a maximum of 18 weeks if the mental or physical wellbeing of the mother is likely to deteriorate if the pregnancy continues

B A person shall not be guilty of an offence under the law relating to abortion when a pregnancy is terminated by a registered medical practitioner and if two registered medical practitioners are of the opinion that this is the right thing to do, formed in good faith

C Only 50% of abortions are carried out before the 13th week of pregnancy

D A surgical abortion at 8 weeks of gestation can be carried out under general anaesthetic if the woman requests it

E Early medical abortion can be performed under general anaesthesia if the woman requests it

10. The following statements are true with regards to induced abortions in the UK:

A It is one of the most common procedures performed in gynaecology

B Over 98% are performed because of risk to the physical and mental health of the woman and child

C Both surgical and medical methods of abortion carry a risk of failure to terminate the pregnancy and hence the need for a repeat procedure

D There is a small risk of a uterine rupture with mid-trimester medical management

E There is a recognised association with subsequent placenta praevia