The interview question bank

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

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

  During rotations, you see one of your closest friends cover up a medical error they made with a patient. What do you do?

  Integrity · Patient safety · Professionalism

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  Sample answer outline

  1. 1First check on the patient: are they at risk right now? If so, alert the team immediately.
  2. 2Speak to your friend promptly and privately. Encourage them to disclose and offer to go with them.
  3. 3If they won't, take it to your supervisor yourself. Patient safety outranks loyalty.
  4. 4Acknowledge the pull of friendship and their fear, and point out that errors are reported to fix systems, not only to punish people.

  What makes it work

  • It gives your friend the chance to do the right thing first.
  • Clear priorities: patient, honesty, then the friendship.

  Avoid

  • Staying quiet to protect the friendship.

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• EthicsIntermediate·MMI station · Dental

  A patient insists on a cosmetic procedure you believe is unnecessary and could damage healthy teeth. They've already paid in full. What do you do?

  Autonomy and consent · Integrity · Communication

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  Sample answer outline

  1. 1Understand their goal: what do they want to change about their smile, and why now?
  2. 2Explain the risks honestly: removing healthy tooth structure is irreversible.
  3. 3Offer conservative alternatives that meet the goal, such as whitening, bonding or orthodontics.
  4. 4If you still believe it causes harm, decline and refund. Payment doesn't change your duty.
  5. 5Document the discussion.

  What makes it work

  • It separates the patient's goal from the procedure they asked for.
  • Being clear about the payment shows integrity.

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• EthicsIntermediate·MMI station · Dental, MD, DO, PA

  A patient asks you not to document their smoking habit because they don't want their insurance company to know. What do you do?

  Integrity · Confidentiality

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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.

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