NDAEB Ethical and Legal Practice 3

Question 1

Under Canadian dental regulations, what is the dental assistant's legal obligation when they suspect a colleague is practicing while impaired by substances?

Accepted Answer

Report the concern to the appropriate regulatory authority or employer

Answer

Canadian dental regulations and codes of ethics require mandatory reporting of impaired practitioners to protect public safety, regardless of personal relationships with the colleague.

Question 2

A patient requests their complete dental records to be transferred to a new dental office. According to Canadian privacy legislation (PIPEDA), what is the correct procedure?

Accepted Answer

Provide copies within 30 days of the written request at reasonable cost

Answer

Under PIPEDA and provincial privacy laws, patients have the right to access their personal health information. Records must be provided within 30 days, though the practice may charge a reasonable fee for copying.

Question 3

Which of the following scenarios would constitute a breach of informed consent in a Canadian dental practice?

Accepted Answer

Proceeding with an additional procedure discovered during treatment without discussing it with the patient first

Answer

Performing any additional procedure beyond what was originally consented to, without first obtaining new consent, violates the principle of informed consent, even if the additional procedure seems clinically necessary.

Question 4

A dental assistant in Alberta witnesses a dentist repeatedly billing insurance companies for procedures that were not performed. What type of professional misconduct does this represent?

Accepted Answer

Insurance fraud, which must be reported to the regulatory college and potentially law enforcement

Answer

Deliberately billing for services not rendered constitutes insurance fraud, which is both a criminal offence and professional misconduct requiring mandatory reporting to the provincial dental regulatory body.

Question 5

According to the NDAEB Code of Ethics, which principle takes the highest priority when a dental assistant faces a conflict between employer directives and patient welfare?

Accepted Answer

The well-being and safety of the patient

Answer

The NDAEB Code of Ethics establishes that patient welfare is the paramount ethical principle, superseding employer directives, financial considerations, or office protocols when a conflict exists.

(NDAEB) National Dental Assisting Examination Board Practice Test

(NDAEB) National Dental Assisting Examination Board Practice Test

NDAEB Ethical and Legal Practice 3