How to Handle Ethical Questions in Your Residency Interviews

Residency interviews often include ethical questions designed to assess your judgment, teamwork, and ability to handle challenging situations. A common question you might encounter is:

"What would you do if you saw a colleague making a mistake with a patient’s medication?"

Here’s how to effectively approach such questions, along with a sample answer and a framework to guide your response.

1. Key Priorities in Ethical Scenarios

Your response should focus on three main aspects:

• Patient Safety: This should always be your top priority.
• Respectful Communication: Address the issue politely and professionally.
• Escalation When Necessary: If the issue isn’t resolved, report it appropriately.

2. Sample Answer Breakdown

Step 1: Immediate Intervention
“If I noticed a colleague making a mistake with a patient’s medication, I would intervene immediately and politely to prevent harm. For example, I might say, ‘Let’s double-check this prescription to ensure it’s correct.’”

Step 2: Addressing the Issue with the Colleague
There are two possible scenarios:

• Scenario 1: Same Team
  If I’m part of the same team, I’d offer to handle the correction myself if the colleague is unable to do so immediately.
• Scenario 2: Different Team
  If I overheard the mistake but am not on the same team, I’d suggest that the colleague fix it to avoid any potential harm.

Step 3: Escalation if Needed
If the colleague refuses to correct the mistake despite my suggestions, I would report the issue to a superior, ensuring it’s handled properly.

3. Framework for Answering Ethical Questions

To answer any ethical question effectively, follow these steps:
👉 Intervene Immediately: Prioritize patient safety and take swift action.
👉 Communicate Respectfully: Address the issue with empathy and professionalism.
👉 Escalate If Necessary: If the issue isn’t resolved, report it through the appropriate channels.

4. Key Takeaways

Ethical questions are designed to evaluate your decision-making skills in complex situations. Always remember:

• Patient safety is paramount.
• Maintain respect and avoid unnecessary confrontation.
• Take necessary steps to ensure the issue is resolved.

If you want to watch this video CLICK HERE to access it.

If you need more help, you can check out our program HERE.