Dentistry, Ethics, and the Law Flashcards
The dental specialty that involves the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects in the oral and maxillofacial regions
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
The dental specialty that involves the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of malocclusion
Orthodontics
The dental specialty that became the first new dental specialty in 36 years when it was granted recognition by the ADA in 1999
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Was established to guide members in making informed ethical decisions and to establish a standard for professional judgment and conduct
The ADAA Code of Ethics
Ethics deals with
Moral conduct
Right and Wrong
Personal Ethics are learned from
Parents
Teachers
Religion
The four basic principles of ethics for healthcare providers are
Regard for Self-Determination
Doing no harm
Promotion of well-being
Regard for justice
Regard for self-determination
The right to privacy
Freedom of choice
Acceptance of responsibility for one’s actions
A student loses their textbook, and you happen to find it and return the book to its owner this is an example of
Principle of justice
Occurs when two ethical principles come into conflict with each other
Ethical Dilemmas
The steps for solving an ethical dilemma include
Identifying the alternative
Determining the professional implications
The law that deals with patient confidentiality
HIPPA
Criminal law involves a crime against an individual
False
This is Civil Law
Involves crimes against society, a governmental agency initiates the legal action (to punish the offender)
Criminal law
Not doing something that should have been done
can be acts of omission
The employer is responsible for any harm caused by the actions of the employee while the employee is carrying out the business of the employer
Respondent Superior
Refers to discontinuation of care after treatment has begun, but before it has been completed; ends the d entist-patient relationship without giving the patient reasonable notice
Abandonment
The “Four Ds” of malpractice
Duty
Derelict
Direct causes
Damages
The best defenses against malpractice in the dental office are
Prevention
Good communication with the patient
Risk management involves
Maintaining accurate records
Complete records
Obtaining informed consent
Doing everything possible to maintain the highest standards of clinical excellence
Two things must take place for the patient to give informed consent
Being Informed
Giving Consent
Prior to the signing of the informed consent form, the dentist must have a ____________ discussion of the benefits and alternatives of the treatment with the patient
Face-to-face
One who meets the legal requirement of the state board of dentistry may be delegated specific functions by the dentist, which must be performed under _________.
Direct Supervision
A legally qualified dental assistant, the dentist must examine the patient before delegating the procedure and again when the procedure is complete.
Direct Supervision
A Dental assistant who performs a function that is not delegated under the dental practice act of the state in which he or she is practicing
Considered a criminal act
Established to protect the public from incompetent dental healthcare providers; Specifies the legal requirement for the practice of dentistry within each state
Dental Practice Act
Interprets and implements state regulations found within the dental practice.
The State Board of Dentistry
Provides general boundaries within which a dentist must perform in a given situation; means the standard of care of the customary practice of reputable dentists who have similar training and experience; Dentist who also practice in the same area, in a similar discipline
Duty of care
Duty of Care: owned by a dentist to a patient includes being licensed and using reasonable
Skill
Care
Judgement
A dentist who had an unusual case or a condition beyond the dentist’s scope of expertise may
Refer a patient
Contains all of the patients examination records and radiographs
The Patient’s Dental Record
When correcting a chart entry, the dental assistant must use
ink, draw a single line through the previous entry, initial and date the change
When correcting a chart entry, the dental assistant must not use
Correction fluid such as white-out, because the chart is a legal document
Who owns all patient records and radiographs?
The Dentist
Dental professionals in California are required by law to report
known or suspected cases of child abuse
The primary intent of reporting child abuse is to
protect the child
