Ethics & Law · single question
A 14-year-old pregnant patient comes for dental cleaning. Her parents are with her but do not know she is pregnant. What should you do?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Perform the cleaning and advise her to be honest with her parents
- A. ✅ Correct. Perform the dental cleaning (safe during pregnancy with appropriate precautions) and advise the patient to disclose her pregnancy to her parents. This preserves confidentiality while encouraging responsible disclosure.
- B. ❌ Refusing treatment abandons the patient without justification.
- C. ❌ Delegating the breach of confidentiality to staff is equally inappropriate.
- D. ❌ Disclosing a minor's confidential reproductive health information without her consent violates patient confidentiality.
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