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Duty to Report Colleagues — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateEthics & ProfessionalismDuty to Report ColleaguesMFDS Part 1

A dentist observes repeated decontamination breaches by a GDC-registered colleague that create an ongoing risk to patients. The dentist has documented the concern and raised it with the practice manager, but no effective action has been taken. What is the most appropriate next step?

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Correct answer: D — Refer the concern to the GDC because patients require protection

The concern should be referred to the GDC because a registered colleague presents an ongoing patient-safety risk and local action has failed. Under GDC Principle 8, dental professionals must act promptly when patients may be at risk because of a colleague's health, behaviour or professional performance. Referral to the GDC is appropriate when patients or the public require protection, particularly where local action is impractical or ineffective. Actual patient harm need not occur before action is taken, so B is incorrect. Informal discussion alone is inadequate once serious breaches persist, excluding C. Transferring patients does not discharge the professional duty to protect other patients, excluding D. This is a patient-safety and potential fitness-to-practise concern, not merely a management disagreement, excluding E.

Reference: General Dental Council, Standards for the Dental Team, Principle Eight, standards 8.1 and 8.2, 2013 (current online guidance): https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle8/principle8