What is the practitioner's obligation when suspecting unsafe, fraudulent, or illegal activity?

• A. Report to the board or appropriate authorities.
• B. Ignore and document privately.
• C. Only report if patient consents.
• D. Report to the clinic manager only.

Answer: (A)

When you suspect unsafe, fraudulent, or illegal activity, your obligation is to report it to the board or appropriate authorities. Licensing boards have the authority to investigate and discipline practitioners, which helps protect patients and maintain the profession’s integrity. Merely ignoring the concern or documenting it privately does not trigger the regulatory review needed to stop potential harm. You don’t need patient consent to report; confidentiality rules allow disclosures mandated by law when public safety is involved. Reporting only to a clinic manager may neglect the formal action required and could let the issue go unresolved. So the proper step is to notify the board or the appropriate authorities.