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Ethics & Law · single question

An 80-year-old insists his oral health is excellent, but you observe heavy calculus and multiple carious lesions. What is the best response?

  1. Document the disagreement and proceed with a prophylaxis only
  2. Describe your clinical findings and assess his understanding of them
  3. Defer the conversation to a family member
  4. Tell him he is wrong and present a comprehensive treatment plan
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Describe your clinical findings and assess his understanding of them

  • A. Documenting and doing minimal treatment sidesteps the educational obligation.
  • B. Correct. Start by sharing objective findings (ideally with a mirror or intraoral photos), then check what the patient understood. Informed consent requires comprehension, and perception gaps must be closed before planning.
  • C. The patient is a competent adult; going around him violates autonomy.
  • D. A confrontational framing damages rapport and does not build understanding.

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