Dental Ethics-Dr. E. Anuradha Sunil

1. Dental Ethics
Dr. Anuradha Sunil
Royal Dental College, Chalissery Kerala
India

2. Introduction
Dentistry is a profession different from
general businesses.
As a dental professional, you are bound by an
ethical code of conduct.
(Cont’d)

3. Introduction
(Cont’d)
 Ethics deals with moral conduct (right and
wrong behavior) and good and evil.
 Ethics includes values, high standards of
conduct, and professional and personal
obligations in interacting with each other.
 These qualities are important to us as dental
healthcare professionals, as we provide
dental care to our patients.
(Cont’d)

4. Introduction
(Cont’d)
 Ethics seeks to answer two basic questions:
 What should I do?
 Why should I do it?
 Ethics refers to what you should do, not what
you must do. The law deals with what you
must do.

5. Basic Principles of Ethics
A regard for self-determination
(autonomy) includes the right to privacy,
freedom of choice, and the acceptance
of responsibility for one’s own actions.
A regard for justice involves treating
people fairly and giving them what they
deserve and are entitled to receive.

6. Examples of Ethical Principles
 Informing a sales clerk that he or she has
undercharged you for an item (principle of
justice)
 Admitting that you have made a serious error
(principle of autonomy)
 Helping a fellow student study (principle of
well-being)
 Refusing to gossip about a fellow student
(principle of doing no harm)

7. Examples of Unethical Behavior
 Charging the patient for a full set of x-rays
when only six films were taken (principle of
justice)
 Pressuring a classmate into a decision
(principle of autonomy)
 Refusing to help a classmate learn (principle
of well-being)
 Harming another person by repeating gossip
about him or her (principle of doing no harm)

8. Confidentiality
 Confidentiality is a very important issue in the
health profession.
 Healthcare professionals have an obligation
to respect the patient’s privacy.
 However, conflicts involving the principle of
confidentiality, such as in reporting suspected
child or elder abuse, will arise.
 Sometimes the patient’s right to confidentiality
must be balanced against the rights of other
individuals.

9. Fig. 4-1 Patients have the right to expect that their
conversations in the dental office will be
kept confidential.

10. Professional Codes of Ethics
 All of the major professions (e.g., dental,
medical, legal) have written codes of ethics.
 These are voluntary standards of behavior,
not laws, and serve as a method of self-
policing within a profession.
 The codes of ethics of most professions have
been revised to keep them consistent with the
times, but there has never been a change in
the moral intent or overall idealism.

11. Reasons for a Code of Ethics
 To demonstrate to the public the standard of
conduct that can be expected from its
members.
 To increase the ethical consciousness and
ethical responsibility of its members.
 To guide its members in making informed
ethical decisions.
 To establish a standard for professional
judgment and conduct.

12. The Difference Between Ethics and Law
Legal issues are settled with the use of laws
and court decisions. Ethical issues are subject
to individual interpretation with regard to the
right or wrong of a particular situation.
(Cont’d)

13. (Cont’d)
 Laws are very specific and are written by
people authorized to write them.
 The law is often referred to as being “black
and white” or “right or wrong.”
 Ethics are less specific and have more gray
areas. Ethics are the conscience of the
profession.
 Laws set the minimum standard of behavior;
ethics set the highest standard of behavior.
The Difference Between Ethics and
Law

14. Solving Ethical Dilemmas
Step 1: Identify the alternatives.
Step 2: Determine all implications.
Step 3: Rank the alternatives.
Step 4: Choose a course of action.

15.  You may be faced with a situation in which
your dentist friend’s/colleague’s conduct
violates ethical standards.
 Before you make any judgments, be
absolutely certain of all the information and
circumstances.
 If violations of ethical conduct have been
committed, you must make some decisions.
Legal and Ethical Implications

16.  Do you wish to remain under these
circumstances?
 Should you seek other employment?
 If you remain, will it affect you in the eyes of
future employers?
(Cont’d)
Ethical Decision-Making

17. (Cont’d)
 These decisions are difficult, especially if you
like your employer and enjoy your job.
 A dental professional is not legally obligated
to report questionable actions on the part of
other dentists or to try to alter the
circumstances. However, an ethical dental
professional will not wish to participate in
substandard care or unlawful practices that
may be harmful to patients.
Ethical Decision-Making