Section 11: Ethics and Behavioral Issues

Question 1

True or False

Intoxicated patients who may have incurred life-threatening injuries should be physically restrained and treated

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Physicians must be aware of the FDA-prohibited herbal medications that may be inadvertently obtained under different names. What are the well known names of the following herbal medications:

1. Ma huang
2. Glycyrrhiza glabra
3. San qi
4. Serenoa repens

Answer 2

1. Ephedra
2. Licorice
3. Panax pseudoginseng
4. Saw palmetto

Question 3

What should the physician do when a patient decides to take herbal medications against medical advice?

Answer 3

The physician must obtain a written agreement, which releases him/her from liability.

In addition, the physician should attempt to follow the patient’s health status and not abandon him/her, despite his/her decision