Ethics in Dentistry Overview

Ethics is derived from the Greek word "ethos" meaning custom or character.
It is used interchangeably with moral, which is derived from the Latin word "mores" meaning customs or habits.
Ethics is the philosophy of human conduct and a way to evaluate behavior principles for problem-solving.

Dental ethics involves the moral duties and obligations of dentists towards patients, colleagues, and society.
Ethical decisions and actions are crucial in relation to patient choices.

A profession is a vocation involving specialized preparation at the higher education level, governed by a code of ethics.

Professionalism extends ethics to include the conduct characteristics of a profession or professional.
It is the quality of conduct performed by superior knowledge, skill, and judgment for another's benefit, before considering self-interest.

The Hippocratic Oath is the first ethical standard for medicine, established by Hippocrates in 4th-century BC.
"Prescribe principles for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone."

Iatrogenic diseases are doctor-induced illnesses.
They result from using unsterilized instruments, performing procedures beyond competence, faulty dental restoration, etc.

Dentists act in the best interests of patients by carefully weighing the consequences of treatment versus not treating.
They attempt to maximize benefits and minimize harm.
Patient welfare is a priority.

Paternalism occurs when dentists make decisions for their patients' perceived benefit, restricting their liberty.
In healthcare, this often involves withholding information or restricting choices.

Informed consent is a critical aspect of a patient's right to autonomy.
Information about procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives is provided to the patient.
Patients must comprehend the information and voluntarily agree to the treatment.
Legally competent individuals agree or refuse to undergo treatment.

Justice means providing equal treatment to all patients without prejudice.
It entails protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring equality in rights and benefits.
Discrimination based on socioeconomic status, creed, etc., is a violation of justice.

Confidentiality involves protecting patient information.
Maintaining patient confidentiality is vital.
Disclosure is only permissible when it benefits the patient with informed consent.

A conflict of interest occurs when professional judgment is influenced by secondary factors like financial gain.
This is relevant to ethical decision making.

Obedience approach: Following rules and instructions from authority figures.
Imitation approach: Following role models.
Feeling or desire: Ethical decisions are based on personal feelings or desires.
Intuition approach: Ethical actions are perceived immediately.
Habit approach: Ethical decisions are influenced by past experiences and similar situations, with both positive and negative elements in such practices.
Rational approach: Deontology and consequentialism are considered.
Deontology: Decisions driven by fundamental rules.
Consequentialism: Ethical choices based on outcomes which produce the best results.
Principalism: Ethical decisions based on the application of core values of respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
Virtue ethics: Focuses on the behavior of decision makers by emphasizing their virtuous character traits.

Practicing without qualifications, undercharging to attract patients, forged diplomas, misleading reasons for issuing certificates, commission acceptance, misleading advertising for patients
Improper activities of obtaining finances from patients.

Research ethics are essential for ensuring that medical research prioritizes the welfare of participants.
The Nuremberg Code and the Declaration of Helsinki highlight the ethical standards for human research involving informed consent, risk management, and respect for people.

The Nuremberg Code, established after the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi doctors, set ethical standards for medical research.
These standards included informed consent, assessment of risks, participant protection, qualified researchers, termination, and previous animal study implications.

The Declaration of Helsinki outlines ethical guidelines for medical research involving human participants and provides guidance to physicians and other researchers.

Whistle-blowing is the act of informing authority figures or the public about unethical or illegal practices within an organization.

Guide: Dentist-led; Patient information lacking and is not decision-making active
Agent: Patient driven decisions.
Commercial: Dentist and patient act as equal market participants
Interactive: Dentist and patient collaborate in mutually respectful activities.

Towards patients: politeness, empathy, respecting patient time and their varying needs, continuing education/knowledge, and maintaining patient information confidentiality.
Towards each other: not underestimating colleagues or judging their work; providing support to colleagues.
Towards the public: taking leadership roles in the community towards dental health, public education, and promoting public welfare.