Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) Law and Ethics Practice Exam

For what crime is a mandated reporter punished if their failure to report results in death or great bodily injury?

1. Willful neglect

2. Failure to supervise

3. Willful failure to report

4. Criminal negligence

The correct answer is: Willful failure to report

The correct answer identifies "willful failure to report" as the crime for which a mandated reporter can face punishment if their inaction results in death or great bodily injury. This particular offense reflects the expectation that mandated reporters, such as healthcare professionals, must take their legal responsibilities seriously when they suspect abuse or neglect. A willful failure to report indicates a deliberate choice not to act when one is aware of circumstances that necessitate reporting. The law recognizes that such willful neglect can have dire consequences, including the potential for severe harm or even fatality to vulnerable individuals, particularly children or dependent adults. Therefore, the legal system imposes significant penalties on those who, despite their knowledge and obligation, choose not to report these critical situations. In contrast, the other options represent different behaviors or expectations that may not carry the same severe consequences in the context of mandatory reporting requirements or assume a less direct line of responsibility regarding the outcomes of unreported incidents. For instance, willful neglect typically involves a failure to provide care rather than a specific failure to report, while failure to supervise is more relevant in contexts of oversight rather than mandated reporting of potential abuse. Criminal negligence relates to a lack of awareness or gross indifference to risks, which does not fit the deliberate