Ethical Issues in Denistry - 1657 Words

Just like all other healthcare professionals, dentists have responsibilities to their patients, employers, associations and, most important, to their own personal integrity. It is so serious that the dentist be prepared to make sound decisions and actions based on ethical concerns for each patient. Dentists, also face a number of ethical issues related to the treatment of their patients. Some issues are clearly medical, involving the treatment of the patient. Other issues are related to the management of a dentist’s practice, such as employment, corporate sponsorship and advertising. Dentists know that healthy teeth are not always attractive. A patient may have perfectly healthy teeth that, through discoloration or a lack of alignment,†¦show more content†¦A dentist cannot limit the scheduled times for treating HIV-positive patients, such as insisting that an HIV-positive patient come in at the end of the day. According to (Hasegawa 2001, p. 118), â€Å"even if a dentist does not have a patient’s actual HIV test result, there is still a legal obligation to protect confidential HIV-related patient information under the HIPPA Rule.† When it comes to patient abandonment a dentist may dismiss a patient or terminate the dentist-patient relationship for a reasonable cause. There are requirements by the SBDE Rule 108.5 regarding Patient Abandonment that must be followed. According to (Humphris, G. 2003, p. 701), â€Å"the dentist must take steps to protect the dental health of the patient by completing any dental procedures that may be in progress prior to terminating the dentist-patient relationship. The dentist must also remain available for emergency services for at least thirty (30) days after notice of termination is served upon the patient.† As healthcare professionals, dentists assume openly and take on responsibilities founded on the principle of non-maleficence - first do no harm. Some of the many characteristics of being an ethical dental professional are presented in the American College of Dentists Core Values. Autonomy: Patients have the right to determine what should be done with their own bodies. Because patients are moral entities they