During a recall exam, a dentist sees bruises of different ages on a 6-year-old's face and neck, along with a fractured incisor, and the parent's explanation does not match the injuries. What is the dentist's most appropriate obligation?

  • Correct answer

    Report the suspicion directly to the child protection authorities

  • Get the parent's consent before reporting

  • Treat the tooth and document, but report only if the injuries happen again

  • Confront the parent and ask for an explanation before deciding

This question is one of 15 in AFK practice: Prevention, infection control and ethics. Test yourself on all of them.

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Explanations

  • Child protection laws in every Canadian province and territory require a dentist with reasonable grounds to suspect abuse or neglect to report directly to child protection authorities. This duty overrides confidentiality, and neither proof nor parental consent is required.

    Source: Canadian provincial/territorial child protection legislation (duty to report); Dental Ethics at Chairside (Ozar) — oneguy

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