ADAP Professional Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dental assistant is offered a gift by a grateful patient. Under professional ethics guidelines, what is the most appropriate response?
- Accept any gift regardless of value to avoid offending the patient
- Decline all gifts to strictly follow ethics rules
- Use professional judgment; modest tokens are generally acceptable, but expensive gifts should be declined (Correct answer)
- Report the patient's offer to the dentist immediately
Correct answer: Use professional judgment; modest tokens are generally acceptable, but expensive gifts should be declined
Most ethics guidelines permit accepting modest, token expressions of appreciation while discouraging gifts of significant value that could compromise objectivity.
Question 2: What is 'dual loyalty conflict' in dental ethics?
- A patient who sees two dentists simultaneously
- A situation where a professional's obligations to an employer conflict with duties to the patient (Correct answer)
- Working two jobs in the dental field at once
- A dentist who treats both adults and children
Correct answer: A situation where a professional's obligations to an employer conflict with duties to the patient
Dual loyalty conflict arises when an employer's interests (e.g., productivity) clash with the dental professional's ethical duty to patient welfare.
Question 3: Which action by a dental assistant demonstrates the ethical concept of 'fidelity'?
- Reporting a coworker who is stealing supplies
- Keeping promises made to patients, such as following up on test results (Correct answer)
- Refusing to work with difficult patients
- Charging patients accurately for services rendered
Correct answer: Keeping promises made to patients, such as following up on test results
Fidelity means being faithful to commitments and honoring promises made to patients.
Question 4: A dental assistant witnesses the dentist performing a procedure that the assistant believes is clinically unnecessary. What is the ethical obligation?
- Assist silently since the dentist has authority
- Refuse to assist and walk out of the operatory
- Raise concerns privately with the dentist or, if unresolved, through appropriate reporting channels (Correct answer)
- Warn the patient before the procedure begins
Correct answer: Raise concerns privately with the dentist or, if unresolved, through appropriate reporting channels
Dental assistants have an ethical duty to voice concerns about potentially unnecessary treatment through appropriate and constructive means.
Question 5: Under the principle of justice, how should dental professionals allocate treatment time and resources?
- Prioritize patients who pay higher fees
- Treat patients fairly and without discrimination based on personal characteristics (Correct answer)
- See patients with the easiest procedures first to maximize efficiency
- Reserve appointments for patients referred by other professionals
Correct answer: Treat patients fairly and without discrimination based on personal characteristics
Justice requires equitable treatment and non-discrimination, ensuring all patients receive fair access to care.
Question 6: A patient discloses a domestic violence situation to a dental assistant during a visit. What ethical consideration is most relevant?
- Immediately call law enforcement without the patient's knowledge
- Maintain confidentiality under all circumstances
- Provide information about resources and follow mandatory reporting laws while supporting the patient (Correct answer)
- Document nothing to protect the patient's privacy
Correct answer: Provide information about resources and follow mandatory reporting laws while supporting the patient
Dental professionals must balance confidentiality with mandatory reporting obligations and patient safety in domestic violence situations.
Question 7: Which professional behavior best reflects ethical competence in a dental assistant?
- Performing procedures they have not been trained for to help a busy office
- Recognizing the limits of their scope and seeking guidance when uncertain (Correct answer)
- Avoiding documentation to save time
- Dismissing patients who ask too many questions
Correct answer: Recognizing the limits of their scope and seeking guidance when uncertain
Ethical competence includes knowing one's limitations and seeking supervision or guidance rather than exceeding scope of practice.
ADAP Professional Ethics 3
A dental assistant is offered a gift by a grateful patient.
Under professional ethics guidelines, what is the most appropriate response?