What is meant by dental ethics?

Dental ethics would mean moral duties and obligations of the dentist towards his patients, professional colleagues and to the society. These help support autonomy and self-determination, protect the vulnerable and promote the welfare and equality of human beings.

What are the basic principles of ethics in dental?

There are five fundamental principles that form the foundation of the ADA Code: patient autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice and veracity.

What is autonomy in dental ethics?

SECTION 1 — Principle: Patient Autonomy (“self-governance”) This principle expresses the concept that professionals have a duty to treat the patient according to the patient’s desires, within the bounds of accepted treatment, and to protect the patient’s confidentiality.

What is beneficence in dental ethics?

SECTION 3 — Principle: Beneficence (“do good”) The dentist has a duty to promote the patient’s welfare. This principle expresses the concept that professionals have a duty to act for the benefit of others. Under this principle, the dentist’s primary obligation is service to the patient and the public-at-large.

What does ethics deal with?

ethics, also called moral philosophy, the discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad and morally right and wrong. The term is also applied to any system or theory of moral values or principles.

What is Nonmaleficence?

Nonmaleficence. The principle of nonmaleficence holds that there is an obligation not to inflict harm on others. It is closely associated with the maxim primum non nocere (first do no harm).

What is an ethical dentist?

An ethical dentist also develops his or her ethical character along the way. Character is a collection of personality traits expressed consis tently through behavior.

What is a course in dental ethics?

A course or handbook in dental ethics offers guidance on effective reflection and reasoning about ethical problems. A dentist ought to be able to give good reasons for his or her ethical behavior just as a dentist ought to be able to justify any diagnosis or treatment decision.

What are the chapters in the book dental ethics?

Chapter 1: Foundations and Theory 1.1 The Nature of Dental Practice 1.2 Ethics, Law, and Risk Management 1.3 Professionalism and the Nature of Professions Professionalism Checklist 1.4 Standard of Care and Scope of Practice 1.5 Ethical Sensitivity 1.6 Ethical Decision-Making: Essential Theories and Methods

What ethical obligations do dentists have when treating chemically impaired colleagues?

All dentists have an ethical obligation to urge chemically impaired colleagues to seek treatment. Dentists with first-hand knowledge that a colleague is practicing dentistry when so impaired have an ethical responsibility to report such evidence to the professional assistance committee of a dental society.