LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES

Question 1

A prescription sheet will be valid and can be issued bu the pharmacy if it has been signed by what person?

Answer 1

Vocational trainer

Question 2

What is not necessary for consent to be valid?

Answer 2

Agreed in writing

Question 3

A 3-yearly assessment of radiation safety on the premises can be done using a specialist processing test kit which is sent off for analysis, or by undergoing an inspection on the premises. what organisation is most likely to undertake this inspection?

Answer 3

Health Protection Agency

Question 4

Patient attends the surgery with severe dental pain and requests the extraction of the lower left third molar tooth. four months later, the left side of the tounge is still numb and he decides to make a formal complaint against the dentist. what orginisation should the patient contact?

Answer 4

General Dental Council

Question 5

Radiation monitoring badges are devices designed to protect staff from over-exposure to ionising radiation. their use is not compulsury in the dental workplace, unless staff are exposed to an excess of ‘________’ over a weekly period?

Answer 5

150 intra-oral exposures

Question 6

One of your old high school friends attends the surgery for extraction of the upper left second molar tooth. you know her to be an intravenous drug user, but notice that she has not declared this on her medical history form. what action should you take?

Answer 6

Treat her as any other patient

Question 7

While working on reception, the husband of a patient telephones and asks you for information about the treatment procedure his wife has carried out yesterday. you explain to the husband that you are unable to disclose this information as it is a breach of confidentiality?

Answer 7

Caldicott regulations

Question 8

In certain circumstances, it is acceptable for the dental surgery to release personal details to third party without the patient’s written permission. to what person can details be given?

Answer 8

Bailiff

Question 9

When using radiography techniques in the dental surgery, it is important that the dental team have a quality assurance system in place. the use of this system has to achieve all except what?

Answer 9

keep costs to a minimum

Question 10

An associate dentist is completing an NHS claim form for a patient who is exempt from charges and you have noticed that he regularly claims for treatment that has not been carried out. you have reported this matter to your principle dentist. what gives you protection from possible retaliation in this matter?

Answer 10

Public Interest Disclosure Act

Question 11

when a child leaves the surgery, it would be ideal for the records to be kept forever. however, legally they only need to be kept until the patient is what age?

Answer 11

25 years old

Question 12

The dentist has taken a diagnostic periapical radiograph of an upper right central incisor during root canal treatment. after processing, the image appears elongated and the apex of the root is not visible on the film. what would correctly score the quality assurance of the radiographs?

Answer 12

score 3

Question 13

From time to time, patients may feel that they have recieved a less than adequate service from their dental surgery and make a complaint. in order to handle the complaint correctly, the dental team must carry out what?

Answer 13

Report back to the patient within 10 days

Question 14

To ensure the safety of all staff and patient escorts, a designated controlled area is set up at each X-ray machine. what is the point from which this distance is measured?

Answer 14

Machine head

Question 15

You have recently started a new job as a trainee dental nurse in a local surgery. as part of your induction trianing, the dentist provides you with information about the responsibilities and standards that the dental team to comply with. what document is the information that you were provided with?

Answer 15

General Dental Council Standards Guidance

Question 16

Receptionist becomes fustrated and put the telephone down, then tells you that she could not understand the patient as he didnt speak english very well. what type of discrimination has the receptionist shown?

Answer 16

ethnic discrimination

Question 17

What will not achieve ALARP (ALARA)?

Answer 17

Use of D-speed films

Question 18

The dentist has taken a left bitewing radiograph to determine if an interproximal cavity is present on the lower left first molar tooth. after processing, it is clear that coning has occurred during exposure of the film, and the lower left second and third molar teeth are missing from the image, what would correctly score the quality assurance rating of the radiograph?

Answer 18

score 2

Question 19

records should always be ‘CONTEMPORANEOUS’. what is the correct meaning of this term?

Answer 19

Date ordered

Question 20

Throughout their dental career, all dental personnel are required to act in the best interests of the patient. unfortunately, a small minority of dental team members fail to follow this requirement at all times. before statutory registration of DCPs began, only the dentist would have been held responsible for these failures. what term best describes this fact?

Answer 20

Vicarious liability

Question 21

What is the most likely ratio of acceptable ratings for processed films?

Answer 21

Score 3, 10% maximum

Question 22

Various items of legislation are in place to ensure the safe use of radiation in the dental workplace. every dental surgery has to ensure that all staff comply fully with this legislation, and must have an appointed person to do so. what is the title of this appointment?

Answer 22

Legal person

Question 23

Patients records only need to be kept for what length of time?

Answer 23

11 years

Question 24

Written information about the controlled area must be kept on display at each X-ray machine. what describes the title of this written information?

Answer 24

Local rules

Question 25

The dentist has taken a periapical radiograph of an upper left second premolar tooth that has been fractured and requires extraction. after processing, the radiograph appears black and the image of the tooth cannot be seen. what would correctly score the quality assurance rating of this radiograph?

Answer 25

Score 3

Question 26

Patients have the right of access to their own health records, if written after 1991. in order to comply with this right, the patient and the dental surgery personnel must abide by what?

Answer 26

Access approved by record holder

Question 27

What describes an item that is mounted on a viewer following processing?

Answer 27

Radiograph

Question 28

Patient attends the surgery to complete the current course of treatment. he has a porcelain veneer fitted to the upper left lateral incisor, and a general scale and polish of all standing teeth. what type of paper work will the patient be given?

Answer 28

Receipt

Question 29

Within every dental workplace using ionising radiation techniques, a designated person must be appointed to assess risk and oversee precautions to minimise the risk identified. what is the title for this designated person?

Answer 29

Radiation protection supervisor

Question 30

Under the GDC ‘scope of practice’ document, the dental nurse may carry out additional duties after receiving suitable training for them. this training is often given on the dental premises and by a work colleague, with written records kept as evidence of the training recieved. what tasks requires both assessment and qualification before the dental nurse can carry it out?

Answer 30

expose films

Question 31

When an X-ray machine is in use, the beam of ionising radiation can travel through the patient and scatter into the surrounding area. although all persons except the patient should be outside the controlled area, what additional precautions should be taken to restrict the area of the X-ray beam?

Answer 31

Collimator