A doctor performs an abortion on a woman who is unable to carry a ...

[madam-professor]

A doctor performs an abortion on a woman who is unable to carry a fetus to term because of a severe risk to her health. What is the term for this type of abortion?
 
  A) Spontaneous abortion
  B) Elective abortion
  C) Therapeutic abortion
  D) Legal abortion

Question 2

Tom is a nurse who provides care on a busy medical unit. One of Tom's colleagues has just confided in him that she erroneously gave her patient 16 mg of immediate-release hydromorphone instead of 16 mg of extended-release hydromorphone.
 
  She tells Tom that she
  does not want to report the incident and so she plans to simply monitor the patient's level of
  consciousness and respiratory status closely for the next several hours. Which of the following
  statements best describes Tom's required response to this situation?
 
  A) Tom has a professional and legal responsibility to report this.
  B) Tom should strongly encourage his colleague to document this error.
  C) Tom is obliged to assist his colleague with follow-up assessments.
  D) Tom has no legal obligation to respond, but he should take advantage of this teaching
  opportunity.

[kescobar@64]

Answer to Question 1

Ans: C
A therapeutic abortion is performed for medical reasons while elective abortion is
undertaken for personal reasons. Both are legal under legally appropriate circumstances. A
spontaneous abortion results from natural causes.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: A
Incidents that have the potential for patient harm create a legal and moral obligation
for the nurse to report. Simply encouraging the colleague to document this matter or helping
with assessments are insufficient responses.