Hospital ethics: consent, DNR, and confidentiality

What you’ll face in this ethics round

These questions mirror the tough calls that come up in wards, ERs, and family meetings - consent disputes, DNR status confusion, and privacy boundaries.

Each item is multiple-choice with 4 options and no timer, so you can read carefully and think through the most defensible action.

Skills you’ll practice

You’ll sharpen how you apply core principles (autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice) to real-world hospital communication and documentation.

You’ll also practice separating what feels compassionate from what’s ethically and legally appropriate in the moment.

• Identifying who can consent (patient capacity, proxies, minors, emergencies)
• Handling DNR/DNI orders, code status changes, and documentation pitfalls
• Protecting confidentiality while coordinating care with family and staff
• Recognizing when disclosure is permitted vs required (risk, reporting, duty to warn)
• Choosing the next best step in conflicts, refusals, and end-of-life discussions

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

Many misses come from assuming family automatically speaks for the patient, mixing up capacity with agreement, or treating a DNR as “do not treat.” Watch for questions that hinge on verifying documentation, assessing capacity, and clarifying goals of care.

How difficulty is balanced

Difficulty is mixed: some questions check straightforward rules, while others add competing priorities, limited information, or emotionally charged pressure. You can usually choose your preferred question count and difficulty before starting, making it easy to do a quick run or a full deep-dive session.