Question 1

If a dental team calls upon emergency medical services (EMS) while treating a patient experiencing a medical emergency, that call to the EMS could be used as proof of abandonment in a lawsuit.

Accepted Answer

Contacting emergency medical services in a medical emergency is a duty of care, not abandonment. Abandonment occurs when a dentist terminates a patient's treatment without appropriate notice or providing another dentist to continue care.

Question 2

Laws associated with emergency care vary from state to state.

Accepted Answer

Laws related to emergency care can vary from state to state. It is important to be aware of the laws in your state, especially if you work in healthcare or provide emergency services. It is advisable to consult with legal experts to ensure compliance with all laws and regulations.

Question 3

How can the dental auxiliary help in the event of a lawsuit?&#10;A) If an emergency occurs, do not interfere; let the dentist maintain full care of the patient.&#10;B) Administer medications prescribed only by the dentist and no other health care professional.&#10;C) Write down everything that transpired prior to, during, and after the emergency.&#10;D) Explain in detail the potential risks associated with any dental procedure to the patient.

Accepted Answer

The dental auxiliary can assist in the event of a lawsuit by documenting everything that occurred prior to, during, and after an emergency. This documentation could provide important evidence in a legal case. Options A and B are incorrect as the dental auxiliary should always be prepared to assist in an emergency and should only administer medications as directed by the dentist. Option D is also incorrect as it is the dentist's responsibility to explain the risks associated with any dental procedure to the patient.

Question 4

Where should a list of emergency numbers be located in the dental office?&#10;A) Near the exit door&#10;B) Near the phone&#10;C) In the waiting area&#10;D) In the exam room

Accepted Answer

The emergency numbers should be located near the phone in case immediate action needs to be taken.

Question 5

If a dental patient suffers a serious injury at the dental office, unrelated to a dental treatment, the staff should allow the patient to decide when to leave the office or whether to seek treatment.

Accepted Answer

In the event of a serious injury, dental office staff have a responsibility to ensure the patient receives appropriate care immediately, which may include calling emergency services or providing first aid, rather than leaving the decision solely to the patient.

Question 6

How can a dental team best protect themselves from a lawsuit?&#10;A) Have the patient sign a non-liability agreement.&#10;B) Only accept patients who are generally in good health.&#10;C) Comply with HIPPA's safety regulations.&#10;D) Maintain updated medical histories.

Accepted Answer

Maintaining updated medical histories ensures that the dental team is aware of any changes in the patient's health that could affect treatment, reducing the risk of complications and potential lawsuits.

Question 7

In terms of legal liability, it is optional for a dental team to have an emergency preparedness kit on hand.

Accepted Answer

It is not optional for a dental team to have an emergency preparedness kit on hand. It is mandated by certain state dental boards and failure to have one can result in legal liability. Additionally, having an emergency kit readily available can greatly improve patient outcomes in emergency situations.

Question 8

What is a legal obligation of the dental auxiliary?&#10;A) To be trained in CPR&#10;B) To administer medication in an emergency situation&#10;C) To always defer to the dentist before starting any type of emergency medical intervention&#10;D) To avoid direct contact with a patient if a dentist is not present

Accepted Answer

All dental auxiliaries are legally obligated to be trained in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) in case of a medical emergency in the dental office. This is a basic requirement to ensure patient safety.

Question 9

In an emergency, the dental team should ____.&#10;A) provide care only if they are confident that the condition is life threatening&#10;B) do everything in their power to provide care for the patient&#10;C) make sure that only the dentist has direct contact with the patient&#10;D) not cause further harm by initiating treatment that is not related to dentistry

Accepted Answer

In an emergency situation, the dental team has a duty to provide care for the patient to the best of their ability. This may include initiating treatment that may not be directly related to dentistry but is necessary to stabilize the patient's condition. The team should act quickly and efficiently to provide the necessary care without causing further harm. It is not appropriate to only provide care if the condition is life-threatening, or to restrict direct contact with the patient only to the dentist.

Question 10

Good Samaritan Laws provide complete protection against lawsuits for individuals who provide medical assistance during an emergency.

Accepted Answer

Good Samaritan Laws provide limited protection against lawsuits for individuals who provide medical assistance during an emergency, based on the assumption that they are acting in good faith and without expectation of compensation. However, these laws do not provide complete protection and there are exceptions and limitations to their application.

Question 11

____ Laws were developed to encourage people to help others in emergency situations.&#10;A) Assistive Intervention&#10;B) Compassionate Action&#10;C) Good Samaritan&#10;D) Helping Hand

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____ Laws were developed to encourage people...

Question 12

What is true of the dental auxiliary's liability?&#10;A) The dental auxiliary can be included in a lawsuit against the dentist.&#10;B) There are laws that protect the dental auxiliary from any type of lawsuit.&#10;C) The dental auxiliary are independent entities; thus, the dentist is not legally responsible for their actions.&#10;D) A patient can sue the dentist only, not the auxiliary; but the dentist can subsequently sue the auxiliary.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is true of the dental auxiliary's...

Question 13

What is true of the legal system and healthcare professionals?&#10;A) Lawsuits against healthcare professionals are growing in number.&#10;B) Lawsuits against healthcare professionals are decreasing in number.&#10;C) Healthcare laws are stagnating and no longer relevant.&#10;D) There are no laws that protect the rights of healthcare professionals.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is true of the legal system...

Question 14

If the dental team did not begin treatment on a patient in distress but merely summoned transportation to a medical facility, the patient may have grounds for legal action based on ____.&#10;A) incompetence&#10;B) fulfillment&#10;C) entitlement&#10;D) abandonment

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the dental team did not begin...

Question 15

&#34;____&#34; means that once the dental team begins treatment, it must follow through with all required treatment for the patient.&#10;A) Duty of preparedness&#10;B) Duty to treat&#10;C) Duty of due diligence&#10;D) Duty of full measure

Accepted Answer

The answer of &#34;____&#34; means that once the dental team...

Deck 15: Legal Problems of Emergency Care