Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Law and Ethics Practice Exam

What should be maintained when respecting patient autonomy?

1. Professional boundaries

2. Personal boundaries

3. Unlimited patient information sharing

4. Full transparency about pricing

The correct answer is: Professional boundaries

Maintaining professional boundaries is essential when respecting patient autonomy. Professional boundaries refer to the limits that protect the space between the healthcare provider's professional role and the patient's personal and emotional space. These boundaries help to foster a trusting relationship where patients feel safe to express their wishes, preferences, and concerns regarding their care. Respecting patient autonomy involves allowing patients to make informed decisions about their treatment, which can only occur when there is a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities within the healthcare setting. By maintaining professional boundaries, dental assistants and other healthcare providers can ensure that they support their patients' choices without overstepping into a personal relationship that could compromise the patient's ability to make autonomous decisions. In contrast, personal boundaries are relevant, but they pertain more to the individual's private space and comfort rather than the professional relationship necessary in a healthcare context. Unlimited patient information sharing goes against privacy ethics and regulations, such as HIPAA, which are designed to protect patient confidentiality. While full transparency about pricing is important in providing quality care and ensuring informed consent, it is primarily a financial conversation rather than a direct reflection of patient autonomy. Thus, maintaining professional boundaries is the correct focus when considering how to respect and uphold patient autonomy within a healthcare practice.