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Ethics & Law · single question

A biopsy result has returned. How should the dentist deliver the findings to the patient?

  1. Telephone the patient with the result
  2. Schedule an in-person appointment to discuss the result
  3. Send the result by text message
  4. Message the result through the patient's social media account
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Schedule an in-person appointment to discuss the result

  • A. ❌ A phone call may be acceptable for a clearly benign, expected result, but it is not the best practice for delivering a biopsy diagnosis and offers no support if the news is bad.
  • B. ✅ CORRECT — Biopsy results, especially potentially serious ones, are delivered FACE TO FACE. An in-person visit allows you to confirm identity, explain the histopathology, answer questions, gauge and support the patient's reaction, and arrange referral or treatment in the same appointment.
  • C. ❌ Text messaging is not a secure channel for protected health information and gives no opportunity for discussion.
  • D. ❌ Social media is neither secure nor HIPAA-compliant and is never appropriate for clinical results.

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