ADAP Professional Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dental assistant overhears a colleague making derogatory comments about a patient's oral hygiene to another staff member. What is the most ethical response?
- Ignore it since it wasn't directed at the patient
- Report the behavior to the supervising dentist or office manager (Correct answer)
- Join in the conversation to build team rapport
- Tell the patient what was said about them
Correct answer: Report the behavior to the supervising dentist or office manager
Reporting unprofessional behavior to a supervisor upholds patient dignity and maintains ethical workplace standards.
Question 2: Which principle of dental ethics requires that a dental professional act in the patient's best interest above personal or financial gain?
- Autonomy
- Justice
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Nonmaleficence
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence means acting in the patient's best interest and promoting their well-being.
Question 3: A patient asks the dental assistant to explain why the dentist recommended a crown instead of a filling. How should the assistant respond?
- Provide a detailed clinical diagnosis to fully answer the question
- Decline to answer since it is outside the dental assistant's scope
- Explain the dentist's reasoning in lay terms and offer to have the dentist clarify further (Correct answer)
- Tell the patient to just trust the dentist's judgment
Correct answer: Explain the dentist's reasoning in lay terms and offer to have the dentist clarify further
Dental assistants can support patient understanding in general terms while directing clinical questions back to the dentist.
Question 4: What does the ethical principle of 'veracity' require of dental professionals?
- Treating all patients equally regardless of background
- Telling the truth and being honest with patients (Correct answer)
- Preventing harm during all procedures
- Respecting patient decision-making
Correct answer: Telling the truth and being honest with patients
Veracity is the duty to be truthful and avoid deception in all professional communications.
Question 5: A dental assistant notices that a patient's record contains an error in the treatment history. What is the correct ethical action?
- Correct it quietly without documenting the change
- Leave it since it is not their responsibility
- Report the discrepancy to the dentist so it can be properly corrected (Correct answer)
- Delete the incorrect entry and replace it
Correct answer: Report the discrepancy to the dentist so it can be properly corrected
Errors in records must be corrected through proper channels with documentation to maintain accuracy and legal integrity.
Question 6: Which scenario best illustrates a violation of patient confidentiality?
- Sharing treatment information with a specialist treating the same patient
- Discussing a patient's care with their legal guardian
- Mentioning a patient's name and diagnosis in a public elevator (Correct answer)
- Releasing records to the patient's insurance carrier with written consent
Correct answer: Mentioning a patient's name and diagnosis in a public elevator
Discussing identifiable patient information in public areas where others can hear is a clear HIPAA and ethical violation.
Question 7: An adult patient refuses a recommended X-ray series. The dental team disagrees with the decision. What should be done?
- Take the X-rays anyway since the dentist believes they are necessary
- Document the refusal and respect the patient's decision (Correct answer)
- Dismiss the patient from the practice immediately
- Call the patient's family to override the refusal
Correct answer: Document the refusal and respect the patient's decision
Competent adults have the right to refuse treatment; documenting the refusal protects the patient and the practice.
ADAP Professional Ethics 2
A dental assistant overhears a colleague making derogatory comments about a patient's oral hygiene to another staff member.
What is the most ethical response?