A Dental Hygienist Performs a Procedure on a Client That

A dental hygienist performs a procedure on a client that is outside the state's defined scope of practice. Following a hearing by the state's dental hygiene committee, the dental hygienist's license is suspended for 6 months. As required by state law, the information about the suspension is posted on a Web site that publishes license status and is available to the public. Which of the following characteristics of a profession do these actions support?

A) Identifiable membership with autonomy of practice
B) Strong service orientation
C) Intellectual work and promotion of a body of knowledge in the field
D) Self-regulation
E) Adherence to a code of ethics