ETHICS In Field Of Dental Hygiene

BY Dr. Shahzadi Tayyaba Hashmi

ETHICSDEFINITION :• an area of study that deals with ideas about

what is good and bad behavior• a branch of philosophy dealing with what is

morally right or wrong

ETHICS IN DENTAL HYGIENEo Ethical principles that relate to the dental

profession (e.g beneficence, non maleficence, autonomy)

o a system of moral principles governing the professional conduct of dental and dental hygienic practices

ETHICS IN DENTAL HYGIENEo The principles and norms of proper professional

conduct concerning the rights and duties of health care professionals themselves and their conduct toward patients and fellow practitioners, including the actions taken in the care of patients and family members

ETHICAL CODES

o Ethical codes are formal statementsthat guide members of a profession in theirobligations to clients, colleagues, the largersociety, and to global health.

Code Of Ethics

Key Principles For Ethical Dental Practice

• Putting patients’ interests first and acting to protect them.

• Respecting patients’ dignity and choices.• Protecting the confidentiality of patients’ information.• Being trustworthy• Cooperating with other members of the dental team and

other healthcare colleagues in the interests of patients.• Maintaining your professional knowledge and competence

ETHICS IN DENTAL PRACTICE

1) Respect And Equal Treatment • Dental treatment should be provided without discrimination

based on the basis of on patient’s gender, racial, religious, or ethnic characteristic

• Service to the public includes the delivery of quality, component, and timely care

2) Professional Esteem • While serving the public, a dentist has the

obligation to act in a manner that maintains or elevate the esteem of the profession

3) Standard of care• It is unethical for a dentist to render, or cause to

be rendered, dental treatment of a quality that falls short of best available scientific evidence

4) Informed Consent• Fully informed consent is essential to the ethical practice of

dentistry and reflects the patient’s right of self – decision• A dentist must get valid consent before starting treatment

or physical investigation , or providing personal care, for a patient

4) Informed Consent

• The patient must be presented with all the treatment options

• Discussion should include consideration of the benefits, risks, and expected outcome of the each option

• A parent or legally appointed guardian must consent to the treatment for young children and mentally disabled adults

5) Confidentiality

• The relationship between the patient and hygienist is based on trust

• Dentists maintain patient records in a manner consistent with the protection of the welfare of the patient.

• Upon request of a patient or another dental practitioner, dentists provide any information in accordance with applicable law that will be beneficial for the future treatment of that patient

Ethical challenges

• Three commonly encountered ethicalchallenges are:

– Ethical Distress– Ethical Dilemmas– Ethical Violation

Ethical Dilemmas

• Ethical Dilemmas arise when there areequally compelling reasons for and against twoor more possible courses of action, and wherechoosing one course of action means thatsomething else is relinquished or let go

Ethical Distress

• Ethical Distress arises in situations wheredental hygienists know or believe they knowthe right thing to do, but for various reasons(including fear) do not or cannot take the rightaction or prevent a particular harm

Ethical Violation

• Involves actions or failures that violate fundamental duties to patients or to colleagues and other health-care providers