NETA Ethics & Professional Responsibility 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client asks their trainer to design a meal plan to manage type 2 diabetes. What is the most ethical response?
- Create a detailed low-carb meal plan for the client
- Share general healthy-eating guidelines and refer the client to a registered dietitian (Correct answer)
- Recommend a popular supplement to control blood sugar
- Tell the client to stop taking medication once exercise begins
Correct answer: Share general healthy-eating guidelines and refer the client to a registered dietitian
Prescribing medical nutrition therapy is outside a fitness professional's scope, so a referral to a registered dietitian is required.
Question 2: Which action best protects a client's confidential health information?
- Discussing the client's injury with other members to get advice
- Posting the client's progress photos without asking
- Storing health history forms in a locked or password-protected location (Correct answer)
- Leaving intake forms at the front desk for easy access
Correct answer: Storing health history forms in a locked or password-protected location
Client health records should be kept secure and accessed only by those with a legitimate need.
Question 3: A participant reports chest pain during a group class. What should the instructor do first?
- Stop the participant's activity and activate the facility's emergency action plan (Correct answer)
- Tell the participant to slow down and keep moving
- Suggest the participant stretch and finish the class
- Ask the participant to see a doctor next week
Correct answer: Stop the participant's activity and activate the facility's emergency action plan
Chest pain is a possible cardiac warning sign requiring the exercise to stop and emergency procedures to start.
Question 4: Why should a fitness professional carry professional liability insurance?
- It is required to purchase exercise equipment
- It lets the trainer diagnose injuries legally
- It replaces the need for CPR/AED certification
- It helps protect the trainer financially against negligence claims (Correct answer)
Correct answer: It helps protect the trainer financially against negligence claims
Liability insurance covers legal costs and damages if a trainer is sued for alleged negligence.
Question 5: A trainer's certification has lapsed, but they continue to advertise as 'NETA certified.' This is primarily an issue of:
- Scope of practice
- Misrepresentation of credentials (Correct answer)
- Client confidentiality
- Informed consent
Correct answer: Misrepresentation of credentials
Claiming an expired credential misrepresents qualifications to clients and employers.
Question 6: What is the main purpose of an informed consent form?
- To guarantee the client will reach their goals
- To eliminate all legal liability for the trainer
- To ensure the client understands the risks and benefits of the exercise program (Correct answer)
- To record the client's payment information
Correct answer: To ensure the client understands the risks and benefits of the exercise program
Informed consent documents that the client was told about the program's risks, benefits, and their right to stop.
Question 7: A client offers an expensive gift after reaching a weight-loss goal. What is the best professional approach?
- Follow the employer's gift policy and keep the relationship professional (Correct answer)
- Accept it and offer free sessions in return
- Ask for cash instead of a gift
- Accept it only if no one else finds out
Correct answer: Follow the employer's gift policy and keep the relationship professional
Following workplace policy and maintaining boundaries avoids conflicts of interest.
