Ethics & Law · single question
A patient arrives for IV sedation smelling of marijuana. What is the most appropriate action?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Reschedule the appointment
Rescheduling is required. Cannabis creates unpredictable interactions with sedative agents and significant respiratory risk; rescheduling is the standard of care.
- A. ❌ Drug testing is not a standard dental office procedure for this situation.
- B. ✅ CORRECT – Reschedule; cannabis before IV sedation creates unpredictable respiratory and cardiovascular risks.
- C. ❌ Proceeding cautiously is not safe given the drug interaction risk.
- D. ❌ Reducing dosage does not eliminate the risk of interactions.