Dr. Inas Aziz
The principles of medical ethics. Communication with the patient.Patient autonomy ‘self-governance’.Nonmaleficence ‘do no harm’.Beneficence ‘do good’.Justice ‘fairness’.Veracity ‘truthfulness’.
Treat the patients according to their desires, within the bounds of accepted treatment. Protect the patient's confidentiality. Inform the patient of the proposed treatment, and any reasonable alternatives.
Choice of Treatment Discuss with the patient treatment recommendations to allow him/her to make an informed choice. Benefits. Prognosis. Risks. Reasonable alternatives. Costs.
Confidentiality Adequate records of medical and dental history, clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment of each patient need to be established and maintained. Patient information acquired shall be kept in strict confidence except as required by law.
Protect the patient from harm. Achieved by keeping knowledge and skills current, and knowing one's own limitations.
Education All dentists have the obligation of keeping their knowledge and skills current. Treatment must be provided in accordance with currently accepted professional standards.
Consultation and Referral Provide treatment only when qualified by training or experience; otherwise a consultation and/or referral to an appropriate practitioner is warranted.
Patient Abandonment
Do not discontinue treatment without giving the patient adequate notice and the opportunity to obtain the services of another dentist. Care should be taken that the patient's oral health is not jeopardized in the process.
Patient Records A dentist has the ethical obligation on request of either the patient or the patient's new dentist to hand in dental records or copies of them. This obligation exists whether or not the patient's account is paid in full.
Personal Relationships with Patients Avoid interpersonal relationships that could impair professional judgment or risk the possibility of exploiting the confidence of the patient.
Professionals have a moral duty to act for the benefit of others. The dentist has a duty to promote the patient's welfare.
Abuse and Neglect It is important to become familiar with the signs of abuse and neglect and to report suspected cases to the proper authorities.
Community Service Use your skills, knowledge and experience for the improvement of the dental health of the public.
Emergency Service Dentists have an obligation to consult and to provide treatment in a dental emergency. Upon completion of treatment, the dentist is obliged to return the patient to his/her regular dentist.
Professionals have a duty to be fair in their dealings with patients, colleagues and society, and deliver health care without prejudice.
Patient Selection Do not refuse to accept patients into your practice or deny dental service to patients because of the patient's race, creed, color, sex or national origin. You have the right to refuse to accept an individual as a patient on the basis of personal conflict or time constraint.
Patients with Bloodborne Pathogens A dentist has the general obligation to provide care to those in need. A decision not to provide treatment to an individual because the individual is infected with HIV, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus or another bloodborne pathogen, based solely on that fact, is unethical.
Justifiable Criticism Patients should be informed of their present oral health status without degrading comment about prior services. Comments made should be truthful, informed and justifiable.
Professionals have a duty to be honest and trustworthy in their dealings with people. Respect the position of trust inherent in the dentist-patient relationship.
Unnecessary Services A dentist who recommends and performs unnecessary dental services or procedures is engaged in unethical conduct. E.g: removal of amalgam restorations from the non-allergic patient for the alleged purpose of removing toxic substances from the body.
Representation of Care Do not represent the care being rendered to their patients in a false or misleading manner.
Guarantee A dentist must, neither by statement nor implication, warrant or guarantee the success of operations, appliances or treatment. A dentist has the responsibility to provide a high standard of care and accept responsibility for treatment rendered.
Treatment Dates A dentist who submits a claim form to a third party reporting incorrect treatment dates for the purpose of assisting a patient in obtaining benefits under a dental plan, is engaged in making an unethical, false or misleading representation to such third party.
Overbilling It is unethical for a dentist to increase a fee to a patient solely because the patient is covered under a dental benefits plan.
Professional Announcement Do not misrepresent training and competence in any way that would be false or misleading. Respect and support the public's right to a free choice of dentist. Do not participate in any arrangement which might limit or interfere with a person's freedom to choose a dentist. Act in a manner which will enhance the prestige and reputation of the profession.
Good communication in all forms is the backbone of a well-run organization. Learning about interpersonal communication allows us to communicate what we mean and to interpret what others say and do correctly.
Verbal Nonverbal
Verbal communication is made up of the words, either written or spoken. Select words that will not frighten, intimidate, or upset a patient.
Nonverbal communication: Body language The messages we send The way we carry ourselves and move about Gestures Tone of voice Facial expressions
Do not let the mind wander. Put aside personal concerns while the patient is talking. Do not concentrate on formulating a reply. Concentrate on what the patient is actually saying. Look as well as listen. Pick up both the verbal and nonverbal information the patient is transmitting.
Differences in race, gender, cultural heritage, age, physical abilities, and spiritual beliefs are variations that must be appreciated and understood when working with patients and other staff members.
Psychological Previous dental experiences Attitudes and beliefs about the importance of their teeth Anxiety and fear of pain Subjective fears, also known as acquired fears and based on feelings, attitudes, and concerns that have developed at the suggestions of peers, siblings, or other adults. Objective fears, also known as learned fears, are related to the patient's experiences and recall of those experiences.
Positive atmosphere Sincerity Show respect Respect the patient's time Resolve complaints/misunderstandings Remain approachable Respect patient confidentiality