(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019) Telltale signs of elder abuse may include: ● Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, or burns. ● Unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, a sudden change in alertness, and unusual depression. ● Bruises around the breasts or genital area (sexual abuse). ● Sudden changes in financial situations (exploitation). ● Bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, and unusual weight loss (neglect). ● Spouse’s belittling, threatening, or other controlling behaviors. ● Strained or tense relationships and frequent arguments between the caregiver and the older adult. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019) Reports must be made to an adult protective services agency or the local law enforcement agency. Failure of a mandated reporter to report suspected elder abuse and/ or neglect is a misdemeanor. Mandated reporters are required to report physical abuse, abandonment, isolation, financial abuse, or neglect of an elder or dependent adult. The punishment for mandated reporters who do not report elder abuse vary by state and the severity of the abuse and include fines and /or imprisonment (Nursing Home Abuse Justice, 2022). In the event that the licensee makes a good-faith and confidential report of suspicion of child abuse to the appropriate agency, such as child protective services or the police department, and such suspicions prove to be false, the reporter is immune from claims of defamation (Penal Code section 11172). This same holds true for mandated reporters of elder abuse, per Welfare and Institutions Code Section 15634. location are subject to regulation of the Dental Board of California (California Code of Regulations 1065), and the poster must provide the Board’s contact information (see Appendix F; Dental Board of California, n.d.b). If the office employs the services of dental hygienists, a poster must be placed in the waiting room indicating that the hygienists are subject to regulation by the Dental Hygiene Board of California (Business and Professions Code, Section 138) and provide the contact information of that board (Dental Hygiene Board of California, n.d.; see Appendix G). Failure to have placed the aforementioned posters in the waiting room of a dental office or a hospital waiting area, if the dentist provides services at that hospital, is a violation of the Dental Practice Act and subjects the dental office owner(s) to sanctions. Dental professionals need to be knowledgeable about the ethical and legal parameters within which they operate. The citizens of California will be treated with the highest standard of care possible by dental healthcare workers who incorporate these regulations and guidelines into their clinical practices. From time to time, new regulations and legislative updates are issued. By regularly checking the website of the Dental Board of California (https://www.dbc. ca.gov) all licensees can remain abreast of changes that affect the practice of dentistry.
Gateway, 2019). As cited previously, conviction of a crime is unprofessional conduct and subjects a licensee to sanctions. Furthermore, violation of reporter mandates can subject a healthcare provider to civil liability. Under the Welfare and Institutions Code (Section 15600 et seq.), the State of California recognizes that elders and dependent adults may be subjected to abuse, neglect, or abandonment, and that this state has a responsibility to protect these persons. Section 15630 of that code extends mandatory reporter status to health practitioners in cases of known or suspected instances of elder abuse or neglect. Broadly defined, elder abuse may include: ● Physical abuse, which is defined as inflicting physical pain or injury, and can involve restraining through physical or chemical means in addition to actual physical violence. ● Sexual abuse, which is nonconsensual sexual contact of any kind. ● Neglect, which can involve the failure by those responsible to provide a vulnerable older adult with food, shelter, health care, or protection. ● Exploitation, which is the illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of an older adult, not for the benefit of the older adult. ● Emotional abuse, which involves inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an older adult through verbal or nonverbal acts such as humiliation, intimidation, or making threats. ● Abandonment, which is the desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for the person’s care or custody. ● Self-neglect, which is the failure of a vulnerable older person to perform essential self-care tasks to the extent that his or her health or safety are in danger. Poster requirements The Dental Practice Act requires that the dentist place in various locations within the dental office or place of practice a variety of posters providing patient information and information from the Dental Practice Act. An authorized poster of the Dental Practice Act must be placed in a common area, such as a lunchroom or break room, attended by staff. This would generally be the same location as other posters required by the labor laws of the State of California (CCR 1068). In addition, at entrances to offices with more than 10 employees, the licensee dentist employer who uses mercury-based filling material, nitrous oxide, or bisphenol A must place a poster warning of the effects of such materials or gas (California Dental Association, 2018; see Appendix E.) All dental offices must also display a poster in the waiting room advising patients that dental services provided at that Conclusion This course has provided an overview of the agencies and laws governing dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists who are licensed or seeking licensure to practice in the State of California. The composition and functions of the governing organizations were explained, and the laws and regulations governing the practice of the various dental professionals were outlined, along with the consequences of noncompliance. The responsibilities of licensed dental professionals as mandatory reporters of both child and elder abuse were discussed.
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