ETHICS IN FIELD OF DENTAL

HYGIENE

Dr. Shahzadi Tayyaba Hashmi

shahzadi@inaya.edu.sa

DEFINITION :• 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

o 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 HYGIENE

o 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

ETHICS IN DENTAL HYGIENE

o Ethical codes are formal statements

that guide members of a profession in their

obligations to clients, colleagues, the larger

society, and to global health.

ETHICAL CODES

Code Of Ethics

• 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

Key Principles For Ethical 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

ETHICS IN DENTAL PRACTICE

• 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

2) PROFESSIONAL ESTEEM

• 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

4) INFORMED CONSENT

• 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

5) CONFIDENTIALITY

• Three commonly encountered ethical

challenges are:

– Ethical Distress– Ethical Dilemmas– Ethical Violation

ETHICAL CHALLENGES

• Ethical Dilemmas arise when there are

equally compelling reasons for and against two

or more possible courses of action, and where

choosing one course of action means that

something else is relinquished or let go

ETHICAL DILEMMAS

• Ethical Distress arises in situations where

dental hygienists know or believe they know

the right thing to do, but for various reasons

(including fear) do not or cannot take the right

action or prevent a particular harm

ETHICAL DISTRESS

• Involves actions or failures that violate

fundamental duties to patients or to colleagues

and other health-care providers

ETHICAL VIOLATION