ADA Codes of Ethics Quiz

ADA Codes of Ethics

• The ADA code has three main components
• Principles of Ethics-aspirational goals of the profession, guidance, justification for the Code of Professional Conduct
• Advisory Opinions-interpretations of the Code of Professional Conduct to specific fact situations
• Code of Professional Conduct-expressions of specific types of conduct (required or prohibited)

Principles of Ethics

• Patient autonomy-respect patient's self-determination and confidentiality
• Nonmaleficence-duty to refrain from harming patients
• Beneficence-duty to promote patient's welfare
• Justice-duty to treat people fairly
• Veracity-duty to communicate truthfully

Advisory Opinions

• Interpretations of the Code of Professional Conduct
• Adopted by the ADA's Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs
• Guide membership on how to interpret the Code in disciplinary proceedings
• Part of an ongoing dialogue between dental profession and society
• Subject to continuous review

Patient Involvement and Patient Records

• Dentists must inform patients of proposed treatment and alternatives
• Dentists must safeguard confidentiality of patient records
• Patient records must be maintained with patient welfare in mind

Supplying Copies of Records

• Dentists are ethically obliged to provide patient records, free or for minimal cost if requested
• Copies or summaries of records, including X-rays
• Records must be beneficial for future treatment

Confidentiality of Patient Records

• The key principle is protecting patient confidentiality
• Written permission from patient is needed to forward sensitive information

Section 2 - Non-maleficence

• Dentists have a duty to refrain from harming patients
• Keeping knowledge and skills current
• Knowing limitations and when to refer to specialists
• Knowing when to delegate care to auxiliaries

Code of Professional Conduct - Education

• Dentists are responsible for keeping their knowledge and skill current

Code of Professional Conduct - Consultation and Referral

• Dentists obliged to seek consultation if patient welfare is improved
• Specialists or consulting dentists will return patient after completion of their care, unless the preference of the patient is different
• Specialists must inform patients when further dental care is required

Advisory Opinions - Second Opinions

• Dentist, who receives referral for "second opinion", must render the opinion
• Use of auxiliary personnel
• Dentists must only assign qualified auxiliaries to legally delegatable duties

Advisory Opinions - Ability to Practice

• Dentists with diseases or impairments that endanger patients or staff must limit practice to safe areas.

Advisory Opinions - Exposure to Bloodborne pathogens

• Ethically obliged to conduct and inform on own blood-borne pathogen
• Inform care providers if the dentist is the source individual
• Consent to testing to evaluate the patient

Advisory Opinions - Patient Abandonment

• Dentists should not discontinue treatment without notice and opportunity to find another dentist; Should not jeopardize patient's health
• No interpersonal relationships that impair professional judgment

Section 3 - Beneficence

• Dentists are duty bound to promote patient welfare
• Primaries obligation is to the patient and public at large
• Competent and timely delivery of dental care, respecting patient's needs, values

Code of Professional Conduct - Community Service

• Dentists obligated to contribute to improving public dental health
• Be leaders in the community
• Maintain or elevate esteem of the profession

Code of Professional Conduct - Research and Development

• Dentists obligated to make research results available for safeguarding and promoting public health
• Patents and copyrights may be secured by dentists, but cannot restrict research or practice
• Dentists need to be familiar with signs of abuse and neglect, and report to the proper authorities
• Professional demeanor in workplace should support respectful and collaborative relationships

Advisory Opinions - Reporting Abuse and Neglect

• Dentists are ethically obliged to identify and report cases
• This should be done to the same extent as the legal obligations according to the jurisdiction where the practise is performed.

Advisory Opinions - Disruptive Behavior in the Workplace

• Dentists should be leaders of the oral healthcare team
• Should maintain the required environment and encourage good practice

Principle of Justice

• Dentists have a duty to treat people fairly
• Have a duty to be fair in their dealings patients, colleagues and society
• Dental care should be delivered without prejudice

Codes of Professional Conduct - Patient Selection

• Dentists cannot refuse to accept patients or deny services based on race, religion, etc.
• Must have arrangements for emergency care

Expert Testimony

• Dentists may provide expert testimony if essential for fair disposition

Advisory Opinions - Patients with Bloodborne Pathogens

• Obligation to provide care, but avoiding treatment based on any disease is unethical
• Decisions regarding treatment, and considerations of the health, skills, knowledge, and experience of the patient
• Determine appropriateness based on physician consultation with the patient

Truthful Advertising

• Advertising must be truthful
• Cannot persuade patients to acquire unnecessary services
• Must not mislead patients
• Must provide accurate information about qualifications and skills
• Financial interest in a service must be disclosed to patients prior to referral

Skills Development and Competencies

• Dentists must only practice within their competence
• Consult on cases involving scope of practice

Ethics in Research

• Research should adhere to highest conservation standards
• Actions should consider respect for cultural property
• Research must contribute to society's good based on proper theory
• Participants must consent voluntarily and experience mustn't exceed benefits
• Environment and protection for participants is important

Ethics in Research - Additional Points

• Experiments only with qualified personnel
• Allow patients to discontinue experiments
• Stop experiments if harm is predicted
• Results communicated appropriately and timely to the community
• Participants' confidentiality maintained

References

• Includes Ministerial Resolutions and Codes of Ethics documents

Thank You

• simple acknowledgment