Which statement describes a duty to achieve a certain clinical outcome?

• A. To be licensed
• B. To obtain informed consent
• C. To achieve a reasonable therapeutic or clinical result
• D. To charge a reasonable fee

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that professionals have an obligation to strive for a beneficial, measurable clinical result when they treat patients. In dental hygiene, this means applying appropriate, evidence-based care with the aim of improving or stabilizing the patient’s condition—such as reducing pocket depths, controlling plaque and inflammation, or preventing disease progression—within the bounds of each case and what is reasonably achievable. It’s a standard of care expectation: you should perform and follow up on treatments in a way that seeks a real therapeutic outcome, not just go through motions. The other options describe duties that are about credentials, patient autonomy, or payment practices, not about achieving a clinical result. So the statement that describes the duty to achieve a reasonable therapeutic or clinical result is the best choice.