A dentist agrees to cover emergencies for a colleague who is on vacation. A patient of the vacationing dentist arrives in pain. The covering dentist may do all of the following EXCEPT:

Correct answer: D. Treat the patient informally and keep no record of the visit

• A. ❌ This is permitted and required — documentation of the emergency visit is mandatory.
• B. ❌ This is permitted and expected. The covering dentist manages the acute problem only; definitive care returns to the treating dentist.
• C. ❌ This is permitted. Reimbursement issues are separate from the ethical duty to relieve pain and infection.
• D. ✅ CORRECT — This is the EXCEPTION. Every clinical encounter must be documented in the patient's record. Treating 'off the record' defeats continuity of care, breaches the standard of care, and exposes both dentists to liability. Payment arrangements never justify undocumented treatment.

Note: Coverage arrangements do not create a new comprehensive-care relationship. Relieve the emergency, document it, hand back.