What is an example of active omission?

Active omission refers to a situation where a professional fails to take necessary action that a reasonable person would take, thereby resulting in possible harm to a patient. In this case, selecting the failure to diagnose a tooth that has an obvious periapical abscess illustrates active omission because it involves a direct failure to perform a critical aspect of dental care. A dental assistant or dentist is expected to recognize clear signs of dental issues and take steps to address them. Not diagnosing a well-defined problem demonstrates a clear neglect of duty that can lead to further complications for the patient.

The other options present scenarios of neglect but do not accurately fit the definition of active omission to the same extent. Administering anesthesia without proper monitoring represents an active act that could endanger a patient rather than an omission. Failing to refer a patient to a specialist could also be seen as neglect but may not indicate a direct act of omission with obvious harm as evident in option C. Neglecting to inform a patient about potential side effects likewise involves a failure to communicate, which does not have the same clarity of omission in responsibilities compared to the failure to diagnose a clearly visible dental issue.