Medical Ethics & Patient Rights Flashcards
7 cards from real CIT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medical Ethics & Patient Rights flashcards as text
A patient undergoing implant therapy is also enrolled in a clinical research study. Which document must be obtained before the patient participates?
Answer: Informed consent specific to the research study, approved by an IRB
Research participation requires separate IRB-approved informed consent that covers research-specific risks, voluntary participation, and the right to withdraw.
A patient complains that an implant complication was not disclosed before surgery. This situation most directly relates to which legal concept?
Answer: Failure to obtain informed consent
Failure to disclose material risks before surgery that resulted in harm is the basis of an informed consent claim, a common basis for dental malpractice suits.
A patient expresses dissatisfaction with implant aesthetics but the clinical result is within normal parameters. The ethical response is to:
Answer: Listen empathetically, review pre-treatment documentation, and discuss realistic correction options
Patient grievances deserve respectful acknowledgment; reviewing documented expectations and discussing options balances ethical duty with clinical reality.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a dental practice must:
Answer: Provide reasonable accommodations to patients with disabilities
The ADA requires dental practices to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure patients with disabilities have equal access to dental services.
A patient's spouse calls requesting an update on the implant surgery outcome. Without the patient's authorization, the practice should:
Answer: Decline to provide any information unless the patient has authorized disclosure to the spouse
HIPAA prohibits sharing protected health information with family members or spouses without patient authorization, even if well-intentioned.
A patient signs a consent form but later claims they did not understand the risks explained. To defend validity of the consent, the practice should rely on:
Answer: Detailed documentation of the consent discussion, including risks explained and patient questions answered
Thorough contemporaneous documentation of the consent process, including specific risks discussed and patient acknowledgment, is the strongest evidence of valid informed consent.
Which of the following is an example of professional misconduct that violates the ethical principle of fidelity in implant care?
Answer: Abandoning a patient mid-treatment without proper referral or notice
Fidelity requires faithfulness to the patient relationship; abandonment without proper transition of care is a violation of this duty and may constitute malpractice.