ethics/professionalism

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Question 1 / 3

689e7488fb44f3cd6134f648

Ethicolegal

ethics

professionalism

Case History

A family physician, Dr. Isabelle Dubois, working in a bustling outpatient clinic in downtown Toronto, recently posted a seemingly innocuous comment on a public social media platform about "a challenging week with an unusually high number of patients presenting with complex, rare genetic disorders from a specific community, making diagnostic work-up exceptionally time-consuming." Although no patient names were mentioned, the comment included details about the specific community's geographic location within the city and the rarity of the conditions, which, when combined, could potentially allow for the identification of a few individuals within a small, distinct patient group served by Dr. Dubois. The post also contained a casual complaint about the administrative burden associated with these cases. A patient's family member, a former colleague of Dr. Dubois, saw the post and recognized the implicit details, raising concerns about privacy and professional conduct. What is the most appropriate initial action Dr. Dubois should take regarding this situation, in line with medical ethics?

Lab Parameter	Value	Reference Range

A ) Delete the social media post immediately and review the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) guidelines on professional conduct and social media.

B ) Contact the patient's family member directly to clarify the intent of the post and apologize for any misunderstanding.

C ) Inform her clinic manager and legal counsel about the incident to seek advice on potential repercussions.

D ) Post a public apology on the same social media platform, without directly acknowledging the specific details, to maintain patient trust.

E ) Block the patient's family member on social media to prevent further monitoring of her posts.

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Question 2 / 3

689e7488fb44f3cd6134f64b

Ethicolegal

ethics

professionalism

Case History

Dr. Anya Sharma, a family physician in a suburban Toronto clinic, is seeing Mr. David Lee, a 45-year-old patient who recently recovered from an uncomplicated viral gastroenteritis. Mr. Lee feels much better, and his physical examination is unremarkable. However, during the consultation, he requests a medical certificate for an additional three weeks of sick leave, explicitly stating he wants to use this time to renovate his cottage before the summer rush. He mentions that his previous doctor always "understood" his needs and if Dr. Sharma doesn't comply, he will file a complaint with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), alleging a lack of patient-centred care. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for Dr. Sharma to take in this situation?

Lab Parameter	Value	Reference Range

A ) Refuse the request outright, explaining that medical certificates must accurately reflect the patient's health status and providing false documentation is professional misconduct.

B ) Provide the certificate as requested but document in the patient's chart that the leave was requested for personal, non-medical reasons and under patient duress.

C ) Suggest Mr. Lee pursue alternative leave options, such as personal leave or vacation time, through his employer's human resources department.

D ) Issue a shorter sick leave certificate (e.g., one week) as a compromise to de-escalate the situation and avoid a complaint.

E ) Contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario proactively to seek advice on how to handle the patient's threat before making a decision.

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Question 3 / 3

689e7488fb44f3cd6134f667

Ethicolegal

ethics

professionalism

Case History

Dr. Anya Sharma, a PGY-2 General Surgery resident at a major academic centre in Vancouver, is nearing the end of a particularly gruelling 24-hour shift. Feeling overwhelmed and frustrated after managing a complex case involving a patient with multiple non-adherent behaviours leading to complications, she accesses a seemingly private online forum frequently used by residents from various programs across Canada to vent. In her post, Dr. Sharma describes the patient's intricate social circumstances and specific, rare clinical presentation in vivid detail, using phrases like 'another self-sabotaging individual consuming excessive resources' and 'a drain on the system.' Although no name is mentioned, the details, when combined, make the patient potentially identifiable to anyone familiar with the unit. A medical student on her surgery rotation, who is also part of this online forum, observes the post and, concerned by its content, discreetly brings it to the attention of the Surgery Program Director. Which of the following represents the primary ethical and professional breach committed by Dr. Sharma in this scenario, according to medical standards?

Lab Parameter	Value	Reference Range

A ) Breach of patient confidentiality and privacy, despite the absence of a direct name.

B ) Unprofessional conduct and disrespectful communication towards a patient.

C ) Failure to seek appropriate mental health support for professional burnout.

D ) Inappropriate use of social media platforms for discussing patient cases.

E ) Disregard for the hierarchical structure of the medical team, evident by a medical student reporting to a Program Director.

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