Geriatrics & Palliative Care Practice Questions
Geriatrics tests capacity and refusal of treatment, Parkinson-related falls, stress incontinence classification, and dementia recognition. These four sample questions come from MediLingo's bank of 3,900+ questions across 21 specialties.
Sample questions
Question 1
A 70-year-old man with capacity refuses a life-saving blood transfusion on personal grounds. His family begs you to transfuse. What is the most appropriate action?
a) Declare him incapable because he refuses
b) Respect his refusal if he has capacity ✓ Correct
c) Follow the family's request for transfusion
d) Sedate him and transfuse anyway
Key teaching point: A capacitated refusal of even life-saving treatment must be respected.
Question 2
A 71-year-old man with Parkinson disease falls when his feet suddenly freeze in doorways. Which strategy best reduces these falls?
a) Rhythmic auditory or visual cueing ✓ Correct
b) A nightly sedative
c) Complete rest until freezing resolves
d) A standard cane used alone
Key teaching point: Cueing (auditory or visual) helps freezing-of-gait falls in Parkinson disease.
Question 3
A 68-year-old woman leaks small amounts of urine when she coughs, laughs, or lifts groceries. She has no urgency. Which type of incontinence is this?
a) Stress incontinence ✓ Correct
b) Urge incontinence
c) Overflow incontinence
d) Functional incontinence
Key teaching point: Leakage with exertion and no urgency = stress incontinence.
Question 4
A 76-year-old man has had gradually worsening memory loss over two years. He is alert, attentive, and calm, but cannot recall recent events and gets lost in familiar places. What is the most likely diagnosis?
a) Delirium
b) Normal aging
c) Depression
d) Dementia, likely Alzheimer type ✓ Correct
Key teaching point: Chronic progressive decline with intact attention suggests dementia, not delirium.
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