Professional Ethics and Management Flashcards
7 cards from real NBDE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Ethics and Management flashcards as text
Which document protects a dentist when treating a minor in an emergency without a parent present?
Answer: The doctrine of implied consent for emergency care
The doctrine of implied consent allows treatment of minors (and incapacitated adults) in true emergencies when a guardian cannot be reached and delay would cause harm.
Respondeat superior is a legal doctrine that holds:
Answer: Employers liable for the negligent acts of employees acting within the scope of employment
Respondeat superior ('let the master answer') makes employers vicariously liable for the negligent actions of employees performed during the course of employment.
A dentist who abandons an ongoing patient relationship without adequate notice and transfer of care may be found liable for:
Answer: Patient abandonment, a form of negligence
Patient abandonment occurs when a dentist unilaterally terminates care during active treatment without reasonable notice or help in finding another provider, exposing them to malpractice liability.
Which federal law governs electronic transmission of dental claims and requires standard code sets?
Answer: HIPAA's Administrative Simplification provisions
HIPAA's Administrative Simplification rules mandate the use of standard electronic transaction formats and code sets (including CDT codes) for dental claims processing.
A dentist's fee-splitting arrangement with a dental lab — paying the lab less when it refers patients to the dentist — is ethically prohibited because it:
Answer: Creates a financial conflict of interest that may compromise treatment decisions
Fee-splitting arrangements distort clinical judgment by making financial incentives rather than patient welfare the basis for referral and treatment decisions.
When terminating a patient from a dental practice for non-compliance, which action is most appropriate?
Answer: Provide written notice, offer emergency care during a transition period, and assist with referrals
Proper patient dismissal requires written notice, continued emergency care for a reasonable transition period (typically 30 days), and assistance locating a new provider to avoid abandonment claims.
Which financial metric best indicates a dental practice's short-term ability to pay its obligations?
Answer: Current ratio (current assets ÷ current liabilities)
The current ratio measures liquidity by comparing current assets to current liabilities; a ratio above 1.0 indicates the practice can meet short-term financial obligations.