Medical law and ethics

You are the first shift department manager for medical records at a busy Level I trauma center, looking to fill the position for a medical records technician. The second shift department manager is interviewing with you, and is new to the job.

The second shift manager asks both candidates the following questions.

• Where are you currently working?
• What year did you graduate from high school?
• What relevant experience and skills do you have?
• Why did you leave your previous job?
• What arrangements are you able to make for childcare while you work?
• Do you have any disabilities or health problems?
• What salary are you seeking?
• Are you able to lift up to 50 lbs. as required for this job?

The first applicant is a young male, who is in the process of completing his associate’s degree in health care administration. He currently has a medical records technician certificate. He has two years’ experience at a doctor’s office, but quit that job when he started school in order to accommodate his school schedule.

The second applicant is a young female, who is exhibiting signs of being pregnant judging by the slight round swell in her abdomen. She has experience similar to the first applicant. She has worked at a busy level I trauma hospital, while the first applicant has not.

1. In your first post, respond to the questions below. Give details and specific examples to support your answers. Provide a reference in APA format and complete URL of any website where you find information to support your posts.
   1. Are any of these questions illegal to ask either candidate? If so, explain which ones and why, and provide alternatives to them.
   2. If you were writing standard interview questions for a job position, what steps would you take to ensure that a potential employee’s rights aren’t violated?
   3. What would you do if a person volunteered information that you couldn’t legally ask during an interview? Give a specific example and describe how you would respond.