Professionalism, Ethics, and Patient Safety
What this domain tests
Ethical decision-making, valid consent, confidentiality, scope of practice, and patient safety in periodontal care.
Core principles
- Autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice guide decisions.
- Informed consent is a process, not a signature: diagnosis, options including no treatment, risks, benefits, alternatives, and consequences must be explained in understandable language.
- Capacity must be assessed; vulnerable patients need appropriate support.
- Confidentiality is limited by law and by risk of harm; share only what is necessary.
- Work within your competence and refer when a case exceeds it.
- Document findings, discussions, consent, and adverse events contemporaneously.
- Disclose errors honestly and manage patient safety.
Worked example
A patient requests a connective tissue graft for an esthetic defect. You explain the diagnosis, the option of no treatment, nonsurgical alternatives, graft harvest risks, incomplete coverage, and the possibility of a second surgery. You provide written information and time for questions. The patient signs; the discussion is documented. This satisfies informed consent.
Traps
- Treating consent as a single signature.
- Withholding information to avoid frightening the patient.
- Discussing a patient's case in public areas.
- Performing procedures outside your training because a patient asked.