UKMLA & PLAB Ethics: 2026 Scenarios | MedRevisions
Master UKMLA AKT and PLAB 1 ethics questions. Learn to navigate 2026 communication scenarios, consent, and confidentiality using GMC guidelines.
What changed
- Higher frequency of communication stems with borderline options.
- Greater emphasis on balancing empathy, autonomy, and policy-safe action.
Why it matters for your score
- These stems punish memorized scripts and reward context-sensitive decision-making.
Practical checklist
- Practice one ethics-focused block each week with explanation review.
- Document recurring communication traps in your error log.
- Rehearse default escalation pathways for safety-sensitive cases.
Common questions
What proportion of UKMLA AKT and PLAB 1 are ethics or communication stems?
Roughly 8-12% of either paper carries an ethics or professionalism component, often woven into a clinical scenario rather than asked in isolation. The 2026 sittings have leaned higher within that range — particularly for capacity, confidentiality, and end-of-life consent stems.
How do I choose between two reasonable-looking ethics options on a stem?
Read the stem twice and ask which option a duty-of-candour-aware UK doctor would document in the notes that evening. Options that look like the most polite or empathetic answer often lose; options that protect patient safety, respect autonomy, AND keep the team informed almost always win. When in genuine doubt, the option that consults a colleague or escalates is rarely wrong.
Can I practise ethics scenarios separately on the platform?
Yes — filter the question bank by 'Ethics & professionalism' or by the relevant MLA condition IDs (capacity, consent, confidentiality, communication of bad news, raising concerns). Every ethics stem carries the same explanation structure as clinical questions, with the GMC Good Medical Practice reference linked under each option.
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