Georgetown University Medical School Mock Interview
Master 40 Georgetown Medical School interview questions covering ethics, clinical scenarios, and Jesuit values.
Question 33 of 40
Do you believe there any situations a physician is justified in lying to a patient?
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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
Mutual respect, trust, honesty, and accountability are all critical values in Georgetown University medical school's mission and values. With this question, the interviewers are questioning your knowledge, character, and ethics simultaneously regarding interactions with patients as a physician.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"Trust and respect of a patient is a vital part of the model of care for any patient. I understand that the only reason a physician should withhold information from a patient is under the premise of therapeutic privilege. This concept describes situations where a patient could be a threat to themselves if the physician fully disclosed the details of their medical situation. This generally refers to a patient being a psychological threat to themselves. Although there is support for this idea, I feel it should not be exercised unless the case is extreme. Physicians have a fiduciary duty to their patients, which must be taken seriously."
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
Prepare a well-versed answer for this question, as it may arise many times during medical school and into your career. Be sure to research the concept of 'therapeutic privilege' and create your response. Your answer should be brief, clear, and not convoluted as you explain the importance of an honest approach with patients while also knowing that there are rare times when the truth can be harmful to a patient.
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