West Virginia Dental Jurisprudence
Finals Assessment Review
(Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
, 1. Introduction to Dental Jurisprudence
A Case Scenario: A West Virginia dentist is confronted with a complex
emergency treatment case. Which legal principle most directly governs
the practitioner’s actions during such emergencies?
A. Informed Consent
B. Duty of Care and Standard of Practice
C. Administrative Oversight
D. Statutory Licensure Compliance
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: The duty of care and adherence to the standard of practice
are fundamental to ensuring that even under emergency conditions, the
dentist provides a level of care that meets accepted professional
standards.
---
2. Statutory Framework and Regulations
A Case Scenario: After multiple instances of improperly managed patient
records, a dental clinic in West Virginia is under state investigation.
Which breach is most likely to prompt regulatory action by the West
Virginia Board of Dentistry?
A. Minor scheduling errors
B. Repeated failure to maintain complete patient documentation
C. Occasional clerical mistakes
D. Inadequate office décor
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: Repeated failures in record keeping undermine patient
safety and legal accountability, directly contravening statutory
regulations and prompting disciplinary review.
©2025
,---
3. Professional Responsibility and Ethics
A Case Scenario: A dentist performs a cosmetic procedure on a pediatric
patient without obtaining proper guardian consent. Which ethical
principle is most directly violated?
A. Justice
B. Non-maleficence
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy
- Correct ANS: D
- Rationale: Informed consent, especially involving minors, is critical.
The breach compromises autonomy by denying the patient’s legal
guardian the opportunity to make an informed decision.
---
4. Record Keeping, Documentation, and Consent
A Case Scenario: During a quality assurance audit, several informed
consent forms are found unsigned in a West Virginia dental practice.
What is the most appropriate immediate action?
A. Wait until a follow-up audit
B. Re-document consent post-treatment where possible
C. Dismiss the issue as a clerical error
D. Immediately report the incident to the Board
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: Corrective action—re-obtaining signed consent—is
necessary to ensure compliance with both legal and ethical standards,
thereby protecting both the patient and the dental practitioner.
---
5. Infection Control, Safety, and Public Health
©2025
, A Case Scenario: Following an accidental exposure to patient blood, a
dental assistant undertakes decontamination. Which practice is most
consistent with West Virginia’s infection control protocols?
A. Rely solely on an oral report of the incident
B. Immediate decontamination with proper PPE and follow-up post-
exposure prophylaxis
C. Delay decontamination until symptoms develop
D. Only report the incident without taking further action
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: Immediate decontamination and the use of personal
protective equipment (PPE), together with post-exposure prophylaxis,
are essential to prevent infection transmission and conform with state
safety protocols.
---
6. Delegation and Supervision
A Case Scenario: A dentist delegates a portion of a treatment to a dental
hygienist without confirming the hygienist’s credentials or documenting
the supervision process. What is the major legal oversight in this
delegation?
A. Failing to update patient scheduling
B. Not verifying that the task is within the hygienist’s scope of practice
and ensuring proper supervision
C. Over-reliance on teamwork
D. Not obtaining immediate patient feedback
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: West Virginia regulations require that any delegated tasks
be performed by personnel with verified credentials and within their
legally defined scope, with proper supervision documented to ensure
patient safety.
---
©2025
Finals Assessment Review
(Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
, 1. Introduction to Dental Jurisprudence
A Case Scenario: A West Virginia dentist is confronted with a complex
emergency treatment case. Which legal principle most directly governs
the practitioner’s actions during such emergencies?
A. Informed Consent
B. Duty of Care and Standard of Practice
C. Administrative Oversight
D. Statutory Licensure Compliance
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: The duty of care and adherence to the standard of practice
are fundamental to ensuring that even under emergency conditions, the
dentist provides a level of care that meets accepted professional
standards.
---
2. Statutory Framework and Regulations
A Case Scenario: After multiple instances of improperly managed patient
records, a dental clinic in West Virginia is under state investigation.
Which breach is most likely to prompt regulatory action by the West
Virginia Board of Dentistry?
A. Minor scheduling errors
B. Repeated failure to maintain complete patient documentation
C. Occasional clerical mistakes
D. Inadequate office décor
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: Repeated failures in record keeping undermine patient
safety and legal accountability, directly contravening statutory
regulations and prompting disciplinary review.
©2025
,---
3. Professional Responsibility and Ethics
A Case Scenario: A dentist performs a cosmetic procedure on a pediatric
patient without obtaining proper guardian consent. Which ethical
principle is most directly violated?
A. Justice
B. Non-maleficence
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy
- Correct ANS: D
- Rationale: Informed consent, especially involving minors, is critical.
The breach compromises autonomy by denying the patient’s legal
guardian the opportunity to make an informed decision.
---
4. Record Keeping, Documentation, and Consent
A Case Scenario: During a quality assurance audit, several informed
consent forms are found unsigned in a West Virginia dental practice.
What is the most appropriate immediate action?
A. Wait until a follow-up audit
B. Re-document consent post-treatment where possible
C. Dismiss the issue as a clerical error
D. Immediately report the incident to the Board
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: Corrective action—re-obtaining signed consent—is
necessary to ensure compliance with both legal and ethical standards,
thereby protecting both the patient and the dental practitioner.
---
5. Infection Control, Safety, and Public Health
©2025
, A Case Scenario: Following an accidental exposure to patient blood, a
dental assistant undertakes decontamination. Which practice is most
consistent with West Virginia’s infection control protocols?
A. Rely solely on an oral report of the incident
B. Immediate decontamination with proper PPE and follow-up post-
exposure prophylaxis
C. Delay decontamination until symptoms develop
D. Only report the incident without taking further action
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: Immediate decontamination and the use of personal
protective equipment (PPE), together with post-exposure prophylaxis,
are essential to prevent infection transmission and conform with state
safety protocols.
---
6. Delegation and Supervision
A Case Scenario: A dentist delegates a portion of a treatment to a dental
hygienist without confirming the hygienist’s credentials or documenting
the supervision process. What is the major legal oversight in this
delegation?
A. Failing to update patient scheduling
B. Not verifying that the task is within the hygienist’s scope of practice
and ensuring proper supervision
C. Over-reliance on teamwork
D. Not obtaining immediate patient feedback
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: West Virginia regulations require that any delegated tasks
be performed by personnel with verified credentials and within their
legally defined scope, with proper supervision documented to ensure
patient safety.
---
©2025
