Question Bank
Intelligently curated MMI practice questions for the 2024/2025 admissions cycle.
You are a medical student on a clinical rotation in a rural Indigenous community. You notice that the community lacks access to clean drinking water, which is affecting the health of many residents, including a high incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses. Discuss how you would approach addressing this issue, considering cultural sensitivities and systemic barriers.
A 15-year-old patient comes to you seeking birth control without her parents' knowledge. She mentions that her boyfriend is 21 years old. You are aware that the age of consent laws in Canada have exceptions for close-in-age relationships, but this age gap may be concerning. How do you proceed with providing care while addressing potential legal and ethical issues?
A fellow medical student confides in you that they have been diagnosed with a mental health condition but are afraid to seek treatment due to stigma and potential impact on their future career. How do you support your colleague?
As a physician in a large Canadian city, you have a patient who is homeless and suffers from chronic opioid addiction. He frequently visits the emergency department for overdoses. Recently, Canada has been considering the decriminalization of small amounts of illicit drugs to combat the opioid crisis. Discuss your perspective on this policy change and how it might impact your patient care.
You are an emergency room doctor during a severe wildfire season in British Columbia, and the hospital is receiving a high influx of patients with respiratory issues due to poor air quality. Resources are stretched thin. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires a ventilator, but only one is left, and another patient with COVID-19 complications also needs it. How do you decide who gets the ventilator?
You are a family doctor, and one of your patients is a recent immigrant who speaks limited English. She is pregnant and has expressed interest in genetic testing for her unborn child to rule out any genetic disorders. However, due to cultural beliefs, she may not fully understand the implications of the results, especially if they suggest termination. How do you ensure she makes an informed decision?
A pharmaceutical company offers to sponsor your research project but expects to have control over the publication of the results. Discuss the ethical implications and how you would handle this offer.
A transgender patient complains that staff at your clinic have been using the wrong pronouns and making insensitive comments. As the attending physician, how do you address this issue to ensure an inclusive environment?
You witness a fellow resident making derogatory remarks about patients from a particular socioeconomic background. How do you address this unprofessional behavior?
How have your experiences shaped your understanding of healthcare?
Describe a moment that confirmed your desire to pursue medicine.
Is it ethical for doctors to strike? If so, under what conditions?
A patient with Downs Syndrome became pregnant. The patient does not want an abortion. Her mother and husband want the patient to have an abortion. What should a physician do in this situation?
You are a specialist at a local hospital, who just finished a shift and has a tight run to your daughter's high school graduation ceremony. As you headed off to the door, Erica, a patient who knew you well, saw you from the waiting room and grabbed your attention. 'Doctor! I have a bad chest pain. Please stay for a bit. I'll feel much better if you were here.' Enter the room and talk to Erica.
Due to a shortage of physicians in rural and Northern communities in BC, some policy-makers have suggested that medical programs preferentially admit students who are willing to commit to a 2 or 3 year tenure in rural areas after graduation. Consider the broad implications of this policy for health care and the costs associated. Will this policy be effective?
What would you do if you realized you made a medical error that could harm a patient?
You are part of a team implementing artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in patient diagnostics. How do you lead this project?
A new policy allows nurse practitioners and pharmacists in your province to prescribe certain medications independently. Some of your colleagues feel this undermines the role of physicians. Discuss how you would approach interprofessional collaboration in this evolving healthcare landscape to improve patient outcomes.
In recent years, there has been an increase in popularity of full contact sports, such as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and boxing. Should doctors have a role in regulating such sports?
Should doctors step further into the conversation about adverse health effects of social media?
Your patient asks you if social media is bad for their child, what do you say?
You are a current med student. During the week of graduation, you attend a number of parties around the area with your best friend, Jenna. The last party is held at a camp ground. The morning after the party, you receive a call from Jenna. She asks that you come over and talk. Jenna reveals that she left early and drove home despite drinking that night. Enter the room and talk to Jenna.
Advancements in genetic testing have made it possible to screen embryos for a variety of genetic conditions. Discuss the ethical implications of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for non-medical traits such as intelligence or physical appearance. Should there be regulations limiting the use of PGD?
The legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada has led to increased accessibility. Discuss the potential public health implications of this policy change. How should physicians address cannabis use with their patients, particularly adolescents?
Why aren’t monkeys used more than mice in medical research?
Discuss the ethical considerations of prescribing placebos in clinical practice. Under what circumstances, if any, is it acceptable for a physician to prescribe a placebo without the patient's knowledge?
Your best friend confesses to you that she hit a person a month ago while driving under the influence. She tells you that she kept driving because she was scared and feels really guilty about this incident. How would you respond?
You witness two girls hitting a homeless woman and taking items that belong to her. The victim’s nose is bleeding. You approach her after the incident. She tells you that she is fine and that the same girls have done this before. She promises it is no big deal and not to worry about her. What do you do?
Your older sister tells you that she wants to have IVF and have her child implanted into a surrogate mother for $3,000 through a company. Your mother is opposed to this idea, whereas your father supports her decision. Your sister asks for your support. How would you respond to your sister?
Mrs. Miller is found brain dead and is determined to be a perfect candidate for organ transplants. The physician contacts her husband and son but is met with stern objection upon asking for consent. What would you do?
Some individuals with schizophrenia find it difficult to obtain employment because of the stigma behind the term. Should the scientific community change the term?
How do family physicians stay relevant in the prevalence of AI and self-diagnostic tools out there?
In response to the opioid crisis, some Canadian cities have implemented supervised injection sites. Discuss the ethical and societal considerations of providing such services. Do you believe supervised injection sites are an effective harm reduction strategy? Why or why not?
A patient with advanced dementia is hospitalized and requires a decision about a high-risk surgical procedure. The patient has no advance directive, and their family members disagree on whether to proceed with the surgery. How do you facilitate a decision that respects the patient's best interests and family dynamics?
If you didn’t get into medical school, what would you do?
How do you think your role as a physician fits in with your role as a member of the community?
What does the doctor-patient relationship mean to you?
What makes a good physician and where do you fit in that category?
In an operating room, you’ll find many people: the surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurses, techs, etc. Who is the most important person in this room?
If your best friends were asked to describe you, what would they say?
Think about someone who doesn’t like you. What would they say about you?
A 14 year old patient requests birth control pills from you and asks that you not tell her parents. What would you do?
Your medical school roommate is feeling overwhelmed with the amount of material that is being covered. He tells you that he has failed his last block final, the midterm from last week, and is thinking about dropping out. Enter the room and talk to your roommate.
You’re grabbing dinner with a friend and you’ve had a hard week and are venting about your supervisor. Suddenly you realize your supervisor is also in the restaurant and has heard everything you said. When you get back to work, you ask your supervisor if you can have a word. Enter the room and talk to your supervisor.
Your friend’s dog needs treatment, and they do not have pet insurance or enough money to cover the costs. Your friend comes to you and asks to borrow $5000 for treatment for their dog. What would you say to your friend?
You are doing your rotations during medical school, and you see one of your closest friends in medical school cover up a medical error they made with a patient. What do you do?
If the Prime Minister/President were to ask your advice on one change that could be applied to the healthcare system that would improve it enormously and have the greatest positive effect, how would you answer?
Tell me about your greatest regret. What was it, and what would you do differently?
What do you believe your greatest challenge will be if you are accepted into this program?
You are a 3rd-year medical student doing hospital rotations. A fellow medical student who is doing rounds with you often shows up to these sessions tired, messy, hungover, or even drunk. One day you found him in the lunchroom unaccompanied, so you decided to talk to him. Please enter the lunchroom.
You are granted any three wishes by a genie. What would your wishes be?
A colleague is active on social media and frequently posts about their experiences in the hospital, sometimes including patient anecdotes and non-identifying details. You are concerned about potential breaches of confidentiality. How do you address this issue with your colleague to uphold professional standards?
There is a growing trend of medical students sharing some of their journey of medical school and their experiences in clinical settings, often recording footage of themselves in the hospital. What do you think about this?
You are a family physician in a small, tight-knit community in a rural town. One of your long-term patients, Tom, a 45-year-old man, comes to you with a serious concern. He has recently been diagnosed with Huntington's disease, which is neurodegenerative and has a 50% chance of being passed on to his children. Tom has three children aged 18, 16, and 12, but he is adamant that they should not be told about his diagnosis at this time to avoid causing them distress. He asks you to keep this information strictly confidential. How do you handle this situation, considering your duty to maintain patient confidentiality and the potential benefits of early diagnosis for his children?
How do we solve the shortage of healthcare professionals particularly in rural areas?
As a medical student on a clinical rotation in an inner-city hospital in Vancouver, you witness a senior physician, Dr. Smith, prescribing a higher-than-recommended dose of a potent medication to an elderly patient. Concerned about the potential for adverse effects, you discreetly bring up your concerns to Dr. Smith, who dismisses them and instructs you to follow his orders. Later, you learn that the patient experienced severe side effects requiring intensive care. How do you address this situation, considering the hierarchical dynamics of the medical profession and your responsibilities as a trainee?
You are a pediatrician working in a multicultural area of Toronto. A couple brings in their 5-year-old daughter, Jenna, who has a severe bacterial infection requiring immediate antibiotic treatment. The parents express their preference for treating her with traditional herbal remedies from their culture, citing past success and mistrust of Western medicine due to historical mistreatment of their community. The infection poses a significant health risk if not treated promptly with antibiotics. How do you navigate this conversation to respect their cultural beliefs while ensuring Amara receives the necessary care?
You are a medical student who witnesses your close friend, Sam, cheating on a high-stakes exam. Sam is under significant personal stress due to family issues and confides in you afterward, expressing remorse and fear of the consequences. The school's honor code requires reporting such incidents. How do you handle this situation, balancing compassion for your peer with your ethical obligations and professional integrity?
You are a medical student on a clinical rotation in a rural Indigenous community. You notice that many patients are reluctant to seek medical care at the local clinic due to historical mistrust stemming from past experiences, including the legacy of residential schools and unethical medical practices. How do you approach building trust with the community and encouraging engagement with healthcare services?
During a pediatric rotation, you care for a child from a refugee family who has experienced trauma and has not received routine vaccinations. The parents express fear and skepticism about vaccines due to misinformation and cultural beliefs. How do you approach this situation to ensure the child's health while respecting the family's perspective?
An Indigenous elder is admitted to the hospital with a serious condition. The patient's family requests that traditional healing practices be incorporated into the care plan, including the presence of a healer and ceremonial practices in the hospital room. Hospital policies are not clear on accommodating such requests. How do you advocate for the patient's cultural needs while navigating institutional policies?
A close co-worker has recently lost their child due to a car accident. Enter the room and talk to your co-worker.
Your medical school roommate is feeling overwhelmed with the amount of material that is being covered. He tells you that he has failed his last block final, the midterm from last week, and is thinking about dropping out. Enter the room and talk to your roommate.
A patient from a minority community is diagnosed with a stigmatized condition (e.g., HIV/AIDS) and fears being shunned if their diagnosis becomes known. They are reluctant to notify their partner or seek support services. How do you counsel the patient while respecting their confidentiality and considering public health implications?
An observant Muslim woman arrives at the clinic and prefers to be examined by a female physician due to religious beliefs. No female physicians are available at the time. How do you accommodate her preferences while ensuring she receives timely care?
The government wants to track citizens across the country in order to maintain public safety in the face of a pandemic. How would you advise the government to do this?
A patient leaves a bad rating for your medical office on a reviews website. Enter the room and talk to the patient.
Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.
Give me an example of a time when you were on a team and it didn’t work out. What would you do differently?
Describe a time you have failed at something in a non-academic setting.
Describe a time you have failed at something in an academic setting.
Tell me about a time when you faced a conflict with another individual.
Describe a time when you worked with someone who did not pull his or her weight.
Discuss a time when you went against the orders of your superiors.
You are seeing a patient with kidney failure who refuses dialysis, a life-prolonging procedure. He tells you that he is tired of this procedure and would rather die. His family members request that you dialyze him immediately. Enter the room and talk to the family members.
A 13-year-old girl is diagnosed with early stage lymphoma and has a great chance of survival due to advancements in cancer therapies. When you tell her parents about the treatment, they refuse and tell you that they are planning to travel out of the country for alternative, experimental therapies. How would you talk to the parents?
Tell me about your greatest regret. What was it, and what would you do differently?
What was the most stressful situation you ever faced? How did you handle it?
You are a family physician. One of your patients, Mark, did not attend one of his classes and missed an important exam. He told you that his teacher would like a doctor's note explaining his absence from class; otherwise, he will receive zero, and all hell will break loose. He wants you to write a note for him, indicating that he was not feeling well enough to write the exam. Not able to find any physical symptoms, explain how you would deal with this. Enter the room and talk to Mark.
You are a 3rd year medical student doing hospital rotations. A fellow medical student who is doing rounds with you often show up to these sessions tired, messy, hung over, or even drunk. One day you found him in the lunch room unaccompanied, so you decided to talk to him. Please enter the lunch room.
You are a shift supervisor at McDonalds fast food restaurant. The owner of the franchise has called you over. He is very upset as he has received 3 complaints in the last 30 minutes about the meat in the hamburgers being poorly cooked. There are two people (one male, one female both 15 years old) who have been cooking the meat for the past two hours. The female is the owner‟s daughter. How would you handle the situation?
In the City of Plymouth in England, the City Council has introduced a maximum speed limit for all vehicles of 30km/h (previous limit was 50km/h) within city limits because this will reduce the number and severity of traffic accidents. The city councillors in Edmonton wish to introduce the same restriction. Would you support such a policy here in Edmonton?
The daughter of the interviewer is 16 years old. She is adamant that she have a tattoo next week. The interviewer is against letting her daughter have a tattoo and this is causing much friction in the household. What advice would you give the interviewer?
You learn from your best friend that she was involved in a hit and run accident one night when she had too much to drink and had hit a person crossing the street. She feels badly about this incident. What do you do if anything?
Your friend tells you that a piece of expensive electronic equipment he had bought for $3000 just two weeks ago had stopped working. The store where he bought it had a 7-day return policy. Your friend goes to the store, buys a new piece of equipment and then returns the old damaged equipment in its place for a full refund. The store is owned by your uncle who is struggling to keep the business going. How would you deal with the situation?
At the beginning of your last year of undergraduate studies, the Dean of your Faculty has offered to all of you the opportunity to swallow a red pill. If swallowed, this pill would enormously increase your ability to absorb all the educational material being presented to you in all your courses. In fact, this pill would basically guarantee that you would receive an A+ in all your future courses with a significantly reduced workload. Would you take the red pill?
Data has shown that doctors who smoke are less likely to make good role models for patients. Should doctors be allowed to smoke? Do doctors need to be role models?
