Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) Law and Ethics Practice Exam

What aspect of dental practice is considered while balancing harms and benefits?

1. Cost of treatment

2. Client's cultural background

3. Minimizing harms and maximizing benefits

4. Duration of the treatment

The correct answer is: Minimizing harms and maximizing benefits

In the context of dental practice, balancing harms and benefits is a fundamental ethical consideration that revolves around ensuring that the positive outcomes of treatment outweigh any potential negative effects. This principle is often referred to as the "principle of beneficence" in healthcare ethics, which emphasizes the importance of maximizing patient benefits while minimizing risks and harms associated with treatment procedures. Focusing on minimizing harms and maximizing benefits involves a careful evaluation of the potential risks involved in a dental procedure, such as side effects, complications, or discomfort, against its anticipated benefits, which could include improved oral health, pain relief, or enhanced quality of life for the patient. This approach ensures that practitioners provide care that is not only effective but also responsible and ethical, fundamentally protecting the patient's well-being. While considerations such as the cost of treatment, a client's cultural background, and the duration of treatment are relevant in dental practice, they do not encapsulate the direct ethical obligation to assess the impacts of a treatment option in terms of its benefits and risks. The essence of ethical decision-making in dental care lies in the ability to weigh these outcomes effectively, which aligns closely with the principle underlying the correct choice.