Question 1
During a routine controls assessment at a regional hospital, the IS auditor learns that an audit lead is assigned to examine a control she approved as system owner. The affected operation supports patient-care scheduling and claims processing. Healthcare service continuity and protected records are at stake. Which risk should the auditor treat as the PRIMARY concern arising from these facts?
Explanation
Correct Answer
Correct. Audit conclusions may lack objectivity when independence is impaired by self-review, incentives or undisclosed conflicts. The described exception is: an audit lead is assigned to examine a control she approved as system owner. This risk ties the observation to the business significance of patient-care scheduling and claims processing, rather than treating management's claim as independent assurance.
Incorrect Answers
Biased or incomplete samples can produce unsupported conclusions about how a control operates across the actual population. It does not establish the requested audit independence and objective reviewer judgment outcome.
Stakeholders may rely on a conclusion that exceeds the engagement objectives, criteria or evidence actually obtained. That result could pass without demonstrating audit independence and objective reviewer judgment.
Controls may not address the intended risk at the correct point because their preventive, detective or corrective roles are misunderstood. Acceptance here depends on observing audit independence and objective reviewer judgment, not only that test.