Hall ticket no:1286096

DEFINITION Ethics is the philosophy of human conduct, a way of stating and evaluating principles by which problems of behaviour can be solved.

Ethics is concerned with standards judging whether actions are right or wrong.

Dental ethics simply means moral duties and obligations of the dentists towards the patients ,professional colleagues and to the society.

Hippocratic oath is the first ethical standards given by Hippocrates ,the father of medicine, in the 4TH century BC

 

EHICAL PRINCIPLES

1. to do no harm[non-maleficence]2. to do good[beneficence]3. respect the person4. Justice5. veracity or truthfulness6. confidentiality

TO DO NO HARM considered to be the foundation of social morality even though dental professionals know they tend to break rules.

Iatrogenic diseases-doctor induced illness. When patient is in pain the doctor should attempt to minimise the pain if not alternative minimal treatment or no treatment is to be given.

TO DO GOOD

Dentist role is to benefit the patients not to inflict them harm

Attempts to maximise the benefits and minimize harm

RESPECT THE PERSON

Autonomy Informed consent

A.AUTONOMY

It is the principle that dictates that health care professionals respects patients right to make decisions concerning the treatment plan.

An autonomous person is the one capable of deliberation about personal goals and acting under the direction of such deliberations.

Dentists usually try to direct the patient towards a particular mode of treatment by stressing only over the advantages rather than mentioning disadvantages.

B.INFORMED CONSENT Is a two step process, firstly information is presented

to the patient by doctor, secondly the patient satisfies himself or herself that she understands and based upon this understanding either agrees or refuses to undergo the treatment.

Description of, a. procedures to be carried outb. foreseeable risks or discomforts to the subjectc. reasonably expected benefits from the treatment

A statement that the patient has understood the procedure and is willing to undergo the treatment.

The signature of the patient and of a witness.

JUSTICE Justice is described as fairness or equal treatment , giving to each her or his right or due

Its difficult to provide well distributed health care amongst people

Primary duty of a health professional is to provide service irrespective of class, creed , etc.

Justice demands that each person be treated equally

principle of justice is to protect the weak and to ensure equality in rights and benefits, for both groups and individuals

TRUTHFULNESS The patient - doctor relationship is based on trust . Lying shows disrespect to the patient and threatens relationship

CONFEDENTIALITY

The patient has right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to their care will be treated as confidential.

EHICAL RULES FOR DENTISTS [given by DCI] Duties of dentist towards patients

Duties of dentists towards one another

Duties of dentists towards the public

Duties of dentist towards patients

Dentists should be courteous , sympathetic ,friendly and helpful.

Should be established as a well merited reputation for his/her professional abilities and fidelity.

Duties of dentists towards one another

Every dentist should cherish a proper pride in his / her colleagues and should not disparage them with words or act.

If a dentist is consulted by a patient of another dentist and the former finds that the patient is suffering from previous faulty restoration , its the duty of the dentist to correct the treatment at once with few comments as possible so as to avoid reflection on his predecessor.

Duties of dentists towards the public

Dentist should take leadership roles in the communities on matters related to dental health

Unethical practices; practicing by unregistered persons employed by the dentist

Signing a certificate issued for untrue, misleading and improper reasons

Direct or indirect advertising Use of bogus diplomas Undercharging for solicit patients

THE NUREMBERG CODE 

The Nuremberg code is set of research ethical principles for human experimentation set as a result of the Nuremberg trials at the end of the second world war. 

Promulgated in 1947  They were in response to the inhumane Nazi human experimentation on unconsenting prisoners and detainees during the II world war .The trails were held in the city of Nuremberg , Germany, from 1945 to 1949.

1.The voluntary informed consent of the human subject is absolutely essential.

2.The experiment should be such as to yield fruitful results for the good of the society.

3.The experiment should be designed and based on the results of animals and knowledge of the natural history of the disease.

4.The experiment should be so as to avoid all unnecessary physical and mental suffering and injury.

5.No experiment is to be conducted when there is a prior reason for death or disabling injury to occur.

6. The degree of risk to be solved by the experiment should not exceed the humanitarian importance.

7. Proper preparations and adequate facilities are to be provided to protect the experimental subjects from getting injury, disability or death.

8. The experiment is to be conducted only by scientifically qualified persons.

9. In the course of experiment the human subject has the liberty to halt the experiment if he has reached the heights of physical and mental state where continuation of the experiment seems to be impossible to him.

10. During the course of the experiment the scientist in charge must be prepared to terminate the experiment at any stage if he feels the continuation of the experiment might result in injury , disability , or death to the human subject.