Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real CDC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics & Professional Standards flashcards as text
A patient requests that their dental records not be shared with their insurance company. How should a dental professional respond?
Answer: Honor the request, but advise the patient that claims may be denied without records
Patients have the right to restrict disclosures, but must be informed that doing so may affect insurance payment for services.
Which of the following scenarios represents a violation of the ethical standard of veracity in dental consulting?
Answer: Approving a claim that appears inconsistent with clinical norms without investigation
Approving a questionable claim without investigation is dishonest and violates the commitment to truthful, evidence-based decisions.
When a dental consultant's determination conflicts with the treating dentist's clinical judgment, the best ethical approach is to:
Answer: Consider the clinical rationale provided while applying plan benefits fairly
Ethical consultants weigh clinical documentation thoughtfully while applying plan provisions — neither blanket deference nor automatic overrides are appropriate.
The NADP Code of Professional Conduct primarily governs which group?
Answer: Dental benefit plan professionals
The NADP (National Association of Dental Plans) Code guides ethical conduct for professionals working in the dental benefits industry.
A dental plan's internal policy conflicts with a state law regarding coverage of a specific procedure. Which takes precedence?
Answer: The state law takes precedence over the plan policy
State laws set minimum legal requirements that dental plans must follow; internal policies cannot override applicable law.
Which of the following best describes the ethical duty of 'nonmaleficence' as applied in dental consulting?
Answer: Avoiding decisions that result in unnecessary harm to patients or providers
Nonmaleficence means 'do no harm' — consultants must avoid decisions that unjustly harm patients, providers, or plan integrity.
A dental consultant learns that a colleague is approving claims for procedures that were never performed. The ethical obligation is to:
Answer: Report the suspected fraud to the appropriate authority
Reporting suspected fraud to the appropriate authority (compliance officer, state board, or fraud hotline) is an ethical and often legal obligation.