MEDICAL ETHICS IN DENTISTRY

1. Ethics
&
Jurisprudence
PRESENTED BY
Dr. SREEJAN.C.K, MDS
PROFESSOR
DEPT OF ORAL MEDICINE AND RADIOLOGY
MALABAR DENTAL COLLEGE AND RESEARCH CENTER
MANOOR, EDAPPAL, KERALA

2. • Ethics deal with moral duty, conduct,
and judgment.
Ethics

3. PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
• The Principles of Professional Ethics
lists legal and ethical guidelines
required by regulatory bodies, in our
case, the Dental Council of India.

4. • Everyone in the profession is
expected to adhere to these
professional standards.
• By following with the Code of Ethics,
dental surgeons ensure that ethical
responsibility to patients, the public,
community and the profession are
fulfilled.

5. • The Dental council of India
prescribes the code of Dental ethics
to be followed by Dental surgeons.
• The Dental surgeon is duty bound to
observe the ethical code of conduct
as prescribed by the Dental Council
of India.

6. A Dental Assistant should not cause
no act that can be a violation of code of
ethics for the Practicing dental surgeon
and they should always help in
maintaining the dignity of the profession.

7. A decision is Ethical if :
• It increases integrity and self-respect.
• It does not bring harm to others.
• It builds understanding and removes
unreal barriers between people.
• It builds confidence in self and others.

8. A decision is Not Ethical if :
• It results in an illegal action.
• It brings harm to others.
• A person is exploited and used as an
inhuman object.
• If human potential is belittled,
damaged, or ignored.

9. • It is the system of law as applied to
dentistry.
• Laws are established by the state
through regulatory bodies.
DENTAL JURISPRUDENCE

10. • The dentist, and the practice of
dentistry are controlled by many
laws on the National and State, and
local level.
• It is important for a dental clinic to
work in accordance with the laws
that exists .

11. Acts that cause injury or harm to a
patient will be considered professional
negligence of the dental surgeon and
hence utmost care should be taken to
prevent these.
A) NEGLIGENCE

12. • In all clinical situations, the dental
assistant should maintain the
standards of care as directed by the
Dental surgeon.

13. This is a form of agreement between
the Dentist and the patient obtained
before treatment.
B) Consent

14. • All information regarding treatments
that are being planned for a patient
must be explained in non medical
terms preferably in local language

15. Consent should ideally be obtained
after explaining
• Diagnosis
• Nature of treatment
• Risk involved
• Prospects of success
• Prognosis

16. • It is an important step taken by
dentists to prevent a patient from
bringing legal action against them.
• It is very important to obtain
consent for certain procedures that
are risky.

17. • The patient’s dental record,
commonly referred to as case sheet
provides a chronological record of
the clinical justification for
treatment received by the patient.
• These records are important legal
documents.
C) Patient records

18. Patient’s Clinical Record include
• Medical and dental histories
• Examination findings and
treatment plans
• X-rays (properly identified and
dated)
• Any letters from, or about, the
patient regarding treatment
• Copies of prescriptions