Which term describes terminating treatment or refraining from seeing a patient?

• A. Abandon
• B. Accreditation
• C. Assault
• D. Battery

Answer: (A)

Terminating treatment or not seeing a patient is described as abandonment. In dental practice, clinicians have an ongoing duty to patients who are in active care. Abandonment happens when care is abruptly stopped or a clinician refuses to treat a patient without reasonable notice or a plan for continuing care, leaving the patient in a disadvantageous or unsafe situation. This can breach professional standards and may lead to disciplinary action by the state board. To prevent abandonment, the appropriate approach is to give reasonable notice, refer the patient to a qualified colleague for continuation of care, and ensure the patient can obtain their records and information needed to pursue further treatment. Clear communication about the reasons for ending care and ensuring access to emergency care if needed are also important steps.

Accreditation relates to the standards governing educational programs or institutions, not the patient–provider relationship. Assault refers to threats of harmful contact, and battery involves actual harmful or unwanted physical contact; neither describes the act of ending treatment with a patient.