An adult female patient presents to the dental office with fractured teeth, a lacerated lip and a black eye. She is with her 6 year old son, who is crying and upset. The dentist’s receptionist discretely reports that the child was asking his mother “Why was Daddy hurting you?” Upon questioning, the patient confides that her husband was the source of her injuries and indicates that she would not be pursuing any action. She is referred to a specialist due to the complexity of her dental injuries, but she requests that the source of her injuries not be disclosed. What is the dentist’s obligation?
Report the situation to a relevant child protection agency.
Forward all information, including the source of the injuries, to the specialist.
Report her injuries to an adult protection agency.
Respect the patient’s request regarding confidentiality.
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