Multiple Mini Interview Questions
Practice 30 Multiple Mini Interview questions covering ethical scenarios, time management, and communication under pressure.
Question 3 of 30
Do you believe a family doctor is obligated to report their patients' infectious disease to their public health agency? Why or why not?
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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.
As a physician, you may face ethical dilemmas when it comes to disclosure of patient information and the protection of the public. You have a legal duty and moral obligation of confidentiality; however, some exceptions apply. These exceptions occur when doctors are REQUIRED by law to disclose information, or when the doctors are PERMITTED by law to disclose the information. This exception may include reporting a patients' infectious disease to the public health agency, depending on the region where you plan to practice medicine. Provide a balanced response to this question, fully supporting your stance.
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.
"When it comes to reporting the presence of infectious disease to their public health agency, a physician must familiarize themselves with the mandatory reporting obligations in their region. A physician should be aware of what details they disclose, being sure to limit the amount of information they provide, and sticking strictly with information that is mandatory to report. A physician must also ask if the information falls under the 'duty to report' or the 'duty to warn' umbrella. When a physician is concerned about a potential threat to a patient or third party, they must heartily consider all criteria and circumstances, being objective and accurate at all times. If possible, the physician should inform their patient of their duty to report or duty to warn and disclose to their patients which information they intend to share. Then, the physician should document the discussion in the patients' medical records. Of course, this process will pivot if there is an immediate risk of harm or death to the patient or any third party. If the situation were cloudy, leaving me unsure, I would contact the proper medical authority for information and advice."
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Anonymous Answer
A family doctor is required to report communicable diseases to a public health agency because state and federal public health agencies have mandatory reporting requirements for various infectious diseases. However, physicians should only report what is required to ensure that the patient's privacy is protected. For mandatory reporting requirements, the patient should be notified if the disease has to be reported, if possible. Mandatory reporting requirements are necessary for public health agencies in order for those agencies to allocate resources for public health crises, such as epidemics. Reporting should only be done when the threat of public health outweighs the patient's right to privacy, such as in contact tracing used for COVID-19. If the reporting situation was unclear, I would consult my state public health agency for guidance.
Rachelle's Feedback
It's clear that you have a firm knowledge of physician responsibilities and obligations to various parties. Your answer is clear, confident, and informative. Well done!
Anonymous Answer
A physician is always obligated to keep their patient's information and medical care private. However, I believe there are exceptions to this rule. If a patient's condition/disease is highly contagious and poses a greater threat to the public then the physician is morally obligated to report this to the public health agency. The information disclosed should only be enough for the agency to act with urgency, and not any greater than it would place a patient's privacy at risk. The patient in this scenario must also be informed of the decision of the physician, as they have a right to know how their medical information is being utilized. Physicians must familiarize themselves with mandatory state laws, as doing so may allow a physician to act with urgency and understand which scenarios would allow them to act under a "duty to report," even without the patient's direct approval.
Stephanie's Feedback
This is a thorough, well-rounded response. You show an understanding of important medical policies.
Anonymous Answer
I absolutely believe that the doctor is obligated to report their patient's infectious disease to their public authority while following all HIPAA guidelines. Clinicians are dedicated to helping prevent the spread of diseases and by informing the health agencies they are enabling the proper quarantine and contact tracing protocols to be put in place. The clinician should also educate the subject on ways to prevent the spread of this infection.
Marcie's Feedback
Perfect! You come across as confident and knowledgeable about this topic. The interviewer will appreciate the explanation you've given for why you would report the infectious disease. Can you provide an example of a disease that you would report? Perhaps you can also explain what might happen if doctors didn't report these diseases. Good job!
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