The interview question bank

Competing duties with no perfect answer: consent, confidentiality, fairness.

• EthicsIntermediate·MMI station · MD, DO, PA, Nursing, Residency

  A convicted child molester comes to your ER needing emergency surgery. Do you treat him the same as everyone else?

  Professionalism · Equity and access

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  Sample answer outline

  1. 1Answer clearly: yes. Care is based on medical need, not moral worth. Justice and the duty to treat apply to everyone.
  2. 2Acknowledge that discomfort is human; professionalism means not letting it change the care.
  3. 3Handle the practical side: security and staff safety, and letting a colleague step in if someone truly can't give good care, as long as treatment isn't delayed.
  4. 4Note that punishment belongs to the justice system, not the hospital.

  What makes it work

  • A clear position up front, then nuance.
  • Honesty about feelings makes the commitment believable.

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• EthicsIntermediate·MMI station · Vet

  A cat needs emergency surgery to survive, but the owner can't afford it and declines treatment. The cat will suffer without intervention. How do you handle this?

  Empathy · Equity and access · Communication

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  How to approach ethical dilemma questions

  1. 1Clarify the facts and what you would want to know before acting.
  2. 2Name who is affected and the principles in tension: autonomy, doing good, avoiding harm, fairness, confidentiality.
  3. 3Walk through realistic options, starting with the least drastic.
  4. 4Choose a course of action, explain why, and say who you would involve.

  We haven't written a sample answer for this one yet. Practice it out loud and the AI interviewer gives you feedback on your own answer.

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