NBDHE NBDHE Professional Ethics and Law 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dental hygienist discovers that a colleague has been charting procedures that were not performed. What is the most appropriate initial action?
- Ignore the situation to avoid workplace conflict
- Report the colleague directly to the state dental board
- Confront the colleague privately and document the conversation
- Alert the supervising dentist or practice owner about the discrepancy (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Alert the supervising dentist or practice owner about the discrepancy
Reporting suspected fraud to the supervising dentist or practice owner is the appropriate first step within the organizational hierarchy before escalating externally.
Question 2: Under HIPAA, which of the following represents a permitted disclosure of protected health information without patient authorization?
- Sharing records with a patient's employer upon request
- Disclosing information to public health authorities for disease surveillance (Correct answer)
- Providing records to the patient's insurance company for marketing purposes
- Releasing information to the patient's family members without the patient's consent
Correct answer: Disclosing information to public health authorities for disease surveillance
HIPAA permits disclosure to public health authorities for activities such as disease surveillance, reporting, and control without patient authorization.
Question 3: A patient refuses bitewing radiographs that the hygienist believes are clinically necessary. The hygienist should:
- Proceed with radiographs because clinical necessity overrides patient refusal
- Document the refusal and continue the appointment without radiographs (Correct answer)
- Dismiss the patient from the practice immediately
- Have the dentist physically persuade the patient to comply
Correct answer: Document the refusal and continue the appointment without radiographs
Respecting patient autonomy requires documenting the informed refusal and proceeding with care that the patient does consent to.
Question 4: Which ethical principle obligates dental hygienists to provide care that is beneficial to the patient and promotes their well-being?
- Autonomy
- Nonmaleficence
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Justice
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence is the ethical principle that requires practitioners to act in the best interest of the patient and promote their welfare.
Question 5: A state dental practice act is best described as:
- A voluntary code of ethics adopted by professional associations
- A federal law governing all dental professionals nationwide
- State legislation that defines the legal scope of dental practice within that state (Correct answer)
- Guidelines issued by the American Dental Hygienists' Association
Correct answer: State legislation that defines the legal scope of dental practice within that state
Dental practice acts are state statutes that establish the legal scope of practice, licensing requirements, and disciplinary processes for dental professionals.
Question 6: Informed consent for a dental hygiene procedure is considered legally valid when the patient:
- Signs the consent form without asking questions
- Demonstrates understanding of the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives (Correct answer)
- Is informed of only the benefits to avoid causing anxiety
- Provides verbal consent while the provider documents it without explanation
Correct answer: Demonstrates understanding of the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives
Valid informed consent requires that the patient understands the nature of the procedure, its risks, benefits, and available alternatives before agreeing.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'standard of care' in dental hygiene practice?
- The minimum amount of care required to avoid malpractice lawsuits
- The level of care that a reasonably prudent dental hygienist would provide under similar circumstances (Correct answer)
- The highest possible level of care achievable with unlimited resources
- Care dictated solely by the patient's insurance coverage
Correct answer: The level of care that a reasonably prudent dental hygienist would provide under similar circumstances
Standard of care refers to the degree of care a reasonably competent dental hygienist with similar training would provide in the same or similar circumstances.
NBDHE NBDHE Professional Ethics and Law 2
A dental hygienist discovers that a colleague has been charting procedures that were not performed.
What is the most appropriate initial action?