Your elective is a great opportunity to discover new aspects of medicine you might not have encountered before, along with experiencing different work settings, countries and cultures.

No matter where you go or what you choose to do, it's essential to uphold the same professionalism and ethical behaviour that you would in your placements back home.

Take our short quiz to see where you stand when it comes to working within your competence.

The questions and answers are based on this article - give it a read before you start!

Check your answers at the end.

Start the quiz

1. What is one of the key ethical responsibilities for medical students on elective, as emphasised in the article?

a) Always work independently to show initiative.

b) Recognise the limits of your competence and ask for help when needed.

c) Perform procedures beyond your competence if the hospital is short-staffed.

d) Decline all tasks that seem challenging.

2. How should a medical student respond if asked to perform a task beyond their level of competence during an elective?

a) Agree to do it and hope for the best.

b) Politely decline and explain that you are not trained to perform the task.

c) Attempt to complete the task without saying anything.

d) Complain to your supervisor immediately without any discussion.

3. What is the first step a student should take if they are consistently being asked to perform tasks beyond their competence?

a) Contact the medical school immediately.

b) Refuse to do the tasks and leave the placement.

c) Speak to their elective supervisor to address the issue.

d) Continue performing the tasks and keep notes.

4. In terms of patient confidentiality during an elective abroad, what must a student remember when encountering interesting cases?

a) It's okay to share the case details as long as no names are mentioned.

b) Patient confidentiality applies everywhere, and cases should not be shared without consent.

c) Sharing clinical photos with other students is acceptable if the patient is not identifiable.

d) Patients abroad are not subject to the same confidentiality rules as those in the UK.

5. When is it permissible for a student to take a photo of a patient during their elective?

a) If the patient is unconscious and unable to refuse.

b) If the patient agrees verbally without written consent.

c) If the student has obtained proper consent, even if the patient is not identifiable.

d) If the hospital staff permits it, regardless of patient consent.

6. Why is it important for students to refrain from misleading their medical school about the length of their elective placement?

a) It could result in an extended elective period.

b) It could lead to being offered more work at the hospital.

c) It may raise concerns about the student's honesty and fitness to practise.

d) It could increase their final grade.

7. What should a student do if they are offered an early sign-off from their elective placement, but it conflicts with the required length of placement set by their university?

a) Accept the sign-off and explore the country for the remaining time.

b) Only accept the early sign-off with authorisation from their medical school.

c) Politely decline and continue with the placement for the required time.

d) Answers B and C.

8. When discussing your elective experiences on social media, what should you be particularly cautious about?

a) Posting about procedures that went wrong.

b) Making serial posts that may inadvertently identify patients and reveal confidential information.

c) Sharing photos of medical facilities.

d) All of the above.

9. What should you consider if seeking consent from a patient whose first language is not English?

a) Rely on non-verbal communication.

b) Use basic language to ensure understanding.

c) Consider whether a translator is needed to ensure fully informed consent.

d) Assume that consent is implied if the patient does not object.

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Correct answers

All of the correct answers can be found in our article.

B) It's important to maintain the same level of professionalism and ethical standards you would while on placement at home.
B) Students should politely explain their lack of experience and ask for supervision if needed.
C) Approach your elective supervisor in the first instance before escalating the issue to your medical school.
B) Your duty of confidentiality applies to all patients regardless of where in the world you see them.
C) You must make sure you have appropriate consent, even if the patient is not identifiable.
C) It may be appealing to take up an offer to be signed off a week or two early, but misleading the medical school about the nature or duration of the elective can raise concerns about the student's honesty, which could impact their fitness to practice.
D) Make sure to get proper authorisation and confirmation from your medical school.
D) Always be cautious about what you post on social media, especially about the clinical aspects of your elective. Even if one post doesn't identify a patient, multiple posts together could reveal patient identifiable information.
C) You should make sure patients are fully informed, which may require a translator in cases where the patient's first language is not English.

Take the quiz: staying within your competence on elective

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