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

Which of the following best describes the responsibility of dental hygienists regarding their clients’ informed choices?

1. They may ignore informed choices to provide necessary care

2. They must honor a client's informed choice, including refusal of intervention

3. They can only provide care if the client fully agrees

4. They may override a client’s choices if they believe it’s for their own good

The correct answer is: They must honor a client's informed choice, including refusal of intervention

The responsibility of dental hygienists concerning their clients’ informed choices is fundamentally rooted in respecting patient autonomy and the right to make decisions about their own care. Honoring a client’s informed choice, including the right to refuse interventions, is crucial in practice. This respect for patient autonomy aligns with ethical standards in healthcare, which emphasize that clients should be well-informed and involved in decisions about their treatment options. Informed consent means that patients have been given adequate information about the benefits and risks of a treatment, and they understand this information well enough to make decisions that align with their personal values and circumstances. When a client makes an informed choice, whether in favor of or against a specific intervention, it is the hygienist's obligation to respect that choice. This upholds the ethical principle of autonomy, fostering a trusting relationship between the hygienist and the client. This commitment to honoring informed choice reflects not just legal requirements, but also the ethical foundations of practice that seek to empower clients in their healthcare journeys. The options that imply ignoring or overriding a client's decisions do not align with these principles. Patients have the right to make decisions, even if those decisions might seem unwise from a clinical perspective. Each choice should be respected as a fundamental part of the professional's responsibility