NBDHE Professional Ethics and Law 3

Question 1

Under which circumstance is a dental hygienist LEGALLY required to breach patient confidentiality?

Accepted Answer

When reporting confirmed or suspected child abuse or neglect as required by mandatory reporting laws

Answer

All 50 states have mandatory reporting laws requiring dental hygienists to report suspected or confirmed child abuse and neglect — this legal duty overrides normal confidentiality obligations.

Question 2

The ADHA's Code of Ethics principle of 'societal trust' primarily relates to:

Accepted Answer

The dental hygiene profession's obligation to uphold public trust through ethical practice, self-regulation, and advocacy for oral health

Answer

Societal trust (also called professional trust) reflects the profession's collective obligation to maintain public confidence through ethical conduct, competency, self-governance, and advocacy for the public's oral health.

Question 3

A dental hygienist discovers that a colleague is repeatedly documenting procedures that were never performed in order to increase insurance reimbursement. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Healthcare fraud — a federal crime with criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment

Answer

Documenting false procedures to obtain payment from insurance companies constitutes healthcare fraud under federal law, carrying criminal penalties including fines, imprisonment, and loss of professional licensure.

Question 4

Which document outlines the dental hygienist's rights and responsibilities regarding workplace safety, including exposure to bloodborne pathogens?

Accepted Answer

OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)

Answer

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) mandates employer requirements for protecting workers from exposure to HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens, including training, PPE, vaccination, and exposure protocols.

Question 5

A patient who has been injured by a dental hygienist's negligent scaling procedure has how long to bring a civil lawsuit, under most state laws?

Accepted Answer

Within the statute of limitations, typically 2–3 years from the date of injury or discovery

Answer

Most states set the statute of limitations for dental malpractice at 2–3 years from the date the injury occurred or was discovered (the 'discovery rule'), though variation exists across jurisdictions.

NBDHE Test Practice Test

NBDHE Test Practice Test

NBDHE Professional Ethics and Law 3