Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real COM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics & Professional Standards flashcards as text
A COM wants to advertise their services online. Which advertising practice would be considered unethical?
Answer: Providing testimonials that guarantee specific outcomes
Advertising testimonials that guarantee outcomes is misleading and violates professional advertising ethics.
Under the principle of justice in orofacial myology, a practitioner is obligated to:
Answer: Treat all patients equally regardless of payment ability when feasible
Justice requires fair, equitable distribution of services and non-discriminatory treatment of patients.
A COM receives a referral from an orthodontist who is also a personal friend. What is the most ethical approach?
Answer: Document the professional relationship and ensure clinical decisions remain objective
Documenting the relationship and maintaining clinical objectivity manages the potential dual relationship appropriately.
If a parent refuses to consent to recommended treatment for their minor child, the COM should:
Answer: Document the refusal, educate the parent, and respect their decision
Parental autonomy must be respected; the practitioner should document refusal and provide education while respecting the decision.
Which behavior demonstrates professional integrity in record-keeping for a COM?
Answer: Maintaining accurate, timely, and complete session notes
Accurate and timely documentation is a fundamental professional and ethical obligation in all healthcare disciplines.
A COM is asked by a patient to sign a document falsely indicating that treatment is medically necessary for insurance reimbursement. The ethical response is to:
Answer: Refuse and explain that signing would constitute fraud
Signing false documentation for insurance purposes constitutes fraud and violates professional and legal standards.
How should a COM handle a situation where two evidence-based protocols produce contradictory recommendations for the same patient?
Answer: Apply clinical judgment, consult colleagues, and document the rationale for the chosen approach
Ethical practice requires applying sound clinical judgment, seeking consultation when needed, and documenting decision-making.