A dentist leaves the office without notifying the patient and without treating them, with no obvious clinical reason. This is BEST described as:

Correct answer: B. Abandonment

• A. Battery involves unauthorized physical contact — not the clinical scenario here.
• B. Correct. Abandonment occurs when a dentist unilaterally terminates the patient-provider relationship without reasonable notice or transfer of care, leaving the patient without needed treatment. No notification + leaving = abandonment.
• C. Dismissal is the proper, legal termination of a patient relationship with appropriate written notice and referral. This scenario has none of those elements.
• D. Negligence requires a duty, breach, causation, and damages — while elements may overlap, the specific act described (leaving without notice) is abandonment.