If a dentist tells the parents of a patient with regional odontodysplasia that 'there is NO treatment option' — which ethical principle is violated?

Correct answer: B. Veracity (there IS a treatment option — removable partial denture — so saying none exist is a falsehood)

• A. Non-maleficence relates to active harm — this is more about dishonesty.
• B. Correct. VERACITY requires truthfulness. Regional odontodysplasia DOES have a treatment — removable partial denture during the growth period, followed by definitive prosthetic rehabilitation after skeletal maturity. Telling parents there is NO treatment when options exist violates veracity (truthfulness/honesty with patients/parents).
• C. Beneficence would be violated by actually withholding treatment — saying there are no options is primarily a truth-telling violation.
• D. Autonomy requires giving accurate information for informed decision-making — telling parents there are no options prevents autonomous decision-making, but the root violation is veracity.