You witness a fellow resident making derogatory remarks about patients from a particular socioeconomic background. How do you address this unprofessional behavior?

Where answers to this question lose points

Our scorer marks every answer on three parts. For each of the 62 applicants who finished this question on Confetto, we took their first scored answer and counted the part that scored lowest.

• Structure: a clear order and a clear point32 of 62

Confetto data as of November 8, 2026. A part is shown only when 20 or more applicants share it. Answers where two parts tied are not counted toward either. We never show anyone's answers or details.

What this question tests

• Ethics
• Communication
• Professionalism

How to structure your answer

1. Answer (20 seconds). The opening identifies both the derogatory remarks and the underlying bias as concerns that could affect patient care. It answers directly by committing to speak up, grounding that response in the responsibility to protect trust between patients and physicians.
2. Moment (45 seconds). The answer describes a proposed private conversation, using specific language to name the comments, explain the concern, and invite the colleague's perspective. Its real-life support comes from undergraduate free-clinic experience, though it does not describe an actual incident of confronting a colleague.
3. What it changed (30 seconds). The free-clinic experience taught the applicant that socioeconomic assumptions can obscure important clinical information and compromise care. The answer connects that lesson to sharing concrete experiences with the colleague, examining personal biases, and escalating to the residency director if the behavior persists.
4. Looking ahead (15 seconds). The closing emphasizes ongoing reflection on personal biases rather than treating prejudice as someone else's problem. It connects this approach to becoming a physician who supports honest conversations, strengthens cultural competency, and works toward more equitable patient care.
5. Common pitfalls. A long introduction about professionalism without stating how to respond would weaken the answer, as would condemning the colleague without explaining a constructive conversation. Presenting the hypothetical exchange as a real experience would also undermine credibility, since the actual experience described is free-clinic work.

Example answer from Confetto

Example answer from Confetto. Not a real applicant's answer.

First, I recognize this situation requires addressing both the immediate inappropriate comments and the underlying bias that could impact patient care. As a colleague and future physician, I have an ethical obligation to speak up when I witness unprofessional behavior that could harm our therapeutic relationships with patients.

I would approach my colleague privately, as public confrontation could create defensiveness and wouldn't facilitate genuine reflection. I'd start by saying something like, "I noticed some of your comments earlier about our patients from lower-income backgrounds. I'm concerned about how those attitudes might affect patient care, and I'd like to understand your perspective better." This opens a dialogue rather than immediately condemning their behavior.

Having worked in a free clinic during my undergraduate years, I've seen firsthand how socioeconomic challenges impact health outcomes. I would share these experiences with my colleague, emphasizing how building trust with all patients, regardless of background, is crucial for providing effective care. I might say, "I've learned that when we make assumptions about patients based on their circumstances, we risk missing important clinical information and compromising care quality."

If the behavior continues, I would feel compelled to escalate the concern to our residency director, as persistent bias can seriously impact patient care. However, I believe the first step should be peer-to-peer conversation, as this often proves more effective in changing attitudes than immediate administrative intervention.

Most importantly, I would use this as an opportunity to reflect on my own potential biases. None of us is immune to prejudice, and acknowledging this helps create an environment where we can have honest discussions about improving our cultural competency and delivering more equitable care to all patients.

Use it for its structure. Interviewers can tell a memorized script, so tell your own story.

Keep going

• You are a physician at a community event when an acquaintance asks for your professional opinion on a rash on their arm. How do you respond while maintaining professional boundaries?
• You are a 3rd year medical student doing hospital rotations. A fellow medical student who is doing rounds with you often shows up to these sessions tired, messy, hungover, or even drunk. One day you found him in the lunchroom unaccompanied, so you decided to talk to him. Please enter the lunchroom.
• You are a medical student. The morning after a graduation-week party at a campground, your best friend Jenna asks you to come over. She tells you she left the party early and drove home after drinking. Enter the room and talk to Jenna.
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