Ethics in public health: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Ethics in public health

Sample item

Which principle supports using the least restrictive effective measure during an outbreak response?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Proportionality

Proportionality requires public-health restrictions to be necessary, evidence-based, and no more intrusive than needed to achieve the legitimate health objective.

Option by option

  • A. Commercial profit

    Profit is not the governing ethical justification.

  • B. Professional hierarchy

    Hierarchy does not justify unnecessarily intrusive measures.

  • C. Proportionality (correct)

    Correct: proportional measures balance population protection and individual liberty.

  • D. Diagnostic overtesting

    Overtesting is not an ethical principle for restrictions.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, Proportionality. Proportionality requires public-health restrictions to be necessary, evidence-based, and no more intrusive than needed to achieve the legitimate health objective.

Why is "Commercial profit" not the answer?

Profit is not the governing ethical justification.

Why is "Professional hierarchy" not the answer?

Hierarchy does not justify unnecessarily intrusive measures.

Why is "Diagnostic overtesting" not the answer?

Overtesting is not an ethical principle for restrictions.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ethics in public health in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct: proportional measures balance population protection and individual liberty.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Ethics in public health?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.