Cheating. Who Does It Really Hurt?

Abstract

It is easy enough to proclaim that cheating is wrong and to explain it as yet another example of trends in this country elevating the big bluff or the apparently sincere apology as means of getting off. The question is what should a professional do when witnessing what appears to be a colleague's unethical behavior? A scenario is analyzed where a dental student observes what appears to be cheating on an examination. Important steps in the process include diagnosing the moral culture of the school, determining who else might have witnessed the event and what they might do about it, and being willing to accept personal responsibility for any action taken.