Often discussing a case like this among colleagues would result in additional thoughts, suggestions and options. Dental practitioners face a range of potential conflicts of interest. In some cases… It explores real life ethical dilemmas dental students and new dentists may face and recommends activities that enhance the public trust of the profession. Dilemmas may also arise when it comes to balancing the needs of the dentist's business with the needs of the patients. How common are ethical dilemmas in dentistry? WARNING! As professionals, we need be familiar with the code of ethics to help guide our behavior. An ethical Dilemma! Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Determine the history of the family and the length of time they have been in the US --- they are from a small country in Eastern Europe and have been in the US six months. The mother is pleasant and very caring for her children. Already a member? CPS workers usually take one to two weeks to respond on non-emergency issues, according to the website. Ethical dilemmas are nothing more than complex situations that involve two or more choices that by selecting either of the choices would result in some sort of conflict or transgression. Under this principle, the dentist's primary obligations include dealing with people justly and delivering dental care without prejudice. Sign up now. Ethical Dilemmas in Oral Health Care The two main goals involved in ethics are the ability to discern right from wrong and the commitment to act on a decision. Dilemmas may also arise when it … Both these situations result in cause for disagreement between the dental hygienist and his or her employer in which an ethical dilemma will ensue. As clinicians providing care and services, every dentist and dental hygienist will be faced with many choices, problems and dilemmas. When tough decisions need to be made on behalf of our patients, we need the tools to do it. However, they are not around enough to teach and enforce proper oral hygiene. The patient informs the clinician that they are a recovering addict. How do you respond? The following examples of ethical challenges in dentistry are taken from my own experience with the exception of the last example. They must balance the needs of being a clinician with the needs of running their operation and providing their employees with work. ETHICAL DILEMMA IN DENTISTRY Ethical dilemma refers to the state in which one has to choose mostly between two or more options which are equally identical in magnitude or importance. Discuss the elements of autonomy, fidelity, and confidentiality as they are incorporated in the ethics of. The interpreter and the clinician have observed that dental disease is present and meets the definition of neglect – what would the likely course of action be from child protective services for these children based on history and information. She talks about what she would like to cook for you and the nice people in the office. After your examination of the three children, you too are very concerned about the level of dental disease you have observed as they fit the definition of dental neglect in your state. The same freedom, however, brings moral, ethical, and business dilemmas that are new to most dentists early in their careers, having very little training in the business of dentistry. The dental practice appears to have a relationship with the local church, what guidance do they provide for these folks and do they cover the cost of care --- a clerk at the church helps set up appointments and the church pays for basic care. However, Boards of Dentistry often cite ethics as causative in cases considered by these agencies. What are the most important factors in producing ethical decisions in health care? Option #5 would be also be part of the treatment plan. She invites you to their church for a special festival -- a feast and a dance to celebrate the end of the harvest. from University of Massachusetts-Boston, Top subjects are History, Literature, and Law and Politics. Recognize common ethical dilemmas in dentistry. If low morale is … Many examples of ethical dilemmas in dentistry may arise over deciding what is best for the patient when different courses of action conflict with each other. Thus a dentist who has not performed an endodontic procedure since graduation from dental school 20 years ago would be expected to refer patients to a colleague for root canal therapy. You are a new clinician in an established dental clinic in a large urban area that sees patients from many different immigrant groups. Applying the Ethical Decision-making Model. Each situation involving human beings will be unique since each problem or dilemma will have distinguishing aspects. The model is diagramed in a circle as information can change requiring the clinician to reframe the initial question and begin again based on new facts. The children are healthy, happy and well-adjusted --- Mom is involved, cooks and cares for them and is present in the dental office. What is the responsibility of the clinician in this case to the children and the parent? Ethical dilemmas in dental assisting. Failure to complete ALL the steps will result in a loss of this test score, and you will not receive credit for this course. The choices we make in response to these dilemmas serve to determine the moral character of the dental assistant. Ethical Dilemmas in Dentistry 13 Dentist/Patient Issues 13 Ethical Issues in Dental Fees and Insurance 18 Dentist and Colleague/Employee Issues 19 Ethical Law 20 Ethical Theories 21 Application of Ethical Theories 21 Conclusion 23 References 24 Course Test 26 . As in any medical field, the potential for ethical dilemmas exists in dentistry. We all have different morals and values when it comes to treating patients. Dental assistants will probably face some ethical dilemmas during their careers, and the ADAA upholds the highest code of conduct in any and all cases. Patients rights and medical ethics. Ethical Dilemma And Dental Hygienist. Provide dental treatment to the children. Even though Dental Hygiene was not in my top ten strong occupations, it fit in the first two of five top interest areas according to the Strong Interest Inventory. To illustrate supervised neglect, two case examples show common dental care dilemmas hygienists experience — periodontal disease treated conservatively in high-risk patients, and radiographic refusal. 10 Dental Negligence Case Examples. Many of these choices are cut-and-dried and based upon a definitive need in providing a dental service to a patient. What does it mean to have "ethical wisdom" when it comes to morals and values in a health care organization? This could potentially give rise to any number of conflicts. Dental Hygiene; Career Development; Ethics in dental hygiene. Here are 10 dental negligence cases that can help you determine if you’re a victim of dental medical negligence: Case #1: Extractions. ... By choosing to become a dentist or dental hygienist, an individual assumes a responsibility to help others and professes to be a part of a profession. Refute the paradox (dilemma): The situation must be carefully analyzed. Are dentists influenced by gifts and incentives, and should professional codes of conduct be updated to provide clearer guidelines for interactions with patients, colleagues and industry so as to avoid conflicts of interest in dentistry? Summary of article “Pharmacies, Pharmacists, and Conscientious Objection” by Mark R. Wicclair and 4 questions. For example, if you are asked about a patient with dental decay who refuses to use fluoride toothpaste you could discuss what your understanding is of both dental decay and the use of fluoride. One day, the interpreter for a new family comes to you concerned about the three children whom she is interviewing for your next screening appointments that afternoon. Call child care services for information and guidance. Or should they educate the parents further and hope that conditions improve? A child comes in with multiple oral issues that seem to stem from general neglect. Explain how tort law, criminal law, and contract law directly impact health care professionals. As professionals, dental hygienists often have choices to make in response to issues and dilemmas within their practice settings. The family was referred from a local church which has been helping a number of immigrant families in the community. How do patient rights affect how health care workers interact with patients? Throughout the history of humanity, people always faced ethical dilemmas, and philosophers aimed and worked to find solutions to the problems. Address staff consistency and continuity. I need a summary of the article "Recognizing Conscience in Abortion Provision" by Lisa H. Harris, M.D., Ph.D. How can autonomy affect the ethical principles of health care workers? Should the dentist tell the patient to come back later when the pits have developed into cavities, or seal them and bill it to the insurance company as fillings? A patient may have just had oral surgery. The interpreter tells you that you should inform child protective services (CPS) because of this high level of neglect. Your corporate employer asks you to perform an SRP you know isn't needed. Ethical Dilemma Examples Ethical dilemmas are situations in which there is a difficult choice to be made between two or more options, neither of which resolves the situation in a manner that is consistent with accepted ethical guidelines. In its broadest sense, this principle expresses the concept that the dental profession should actively seek allies throughout society on specific activities that will help improve access to care for all. They may also be tempted to speak ill of another dental practice to poach patients. #4 is the first option chosen in this situation because the children are in the dental office and all indications are that the Mom will proceed with treatment. What ethical dilemmas has the coronavirus placed on our healthcare providers/system? This principle expresses the concept that professionals have a duty to be fair in their dealings with patients, colleagues and society. As you read through these vignettes, consider how you would handle similar situations. 2 For example, a patient requests a 12-month recare schedule due to financial difficulties (autonomy), but the dental hygienist believes that 4-month appointments are what the patient needs to improve his oral health (beneficence). To accommodate these patients and facilitate treatment, the practice employs several interpreters and dental assistants from these various communities. continuing the care that starts in your chair, Procter & Gamble - Crest + Oral-B Give Back, Over treatment and poor quality dental treatment, Deceptive dental marketing and advertisements, Challenges with capacity and informed consent, Conflict or unethical behavior among clinicians, Challenges arising from management, finance or legal issues. This raises the dilemma as to whether the painkiller should be prescribed. No studies or evidence exists documenting the volume of problems. Should the clinician report to child protective services the dental neglect found in the children? The oldest child, nine year old Angie has anterior decay across all her maxillary teeth and the youngest, three year old Sophie has only black stubs for teeth. Discerning or being aware that an ethical issue is present is always the first step followed by defining the aspects of the problem. Informing CPS would most likely not get dental care any faster for these children. The following listing provides the general categories that have been acknowledged as ethical dilemmas in the dental ethics literature.8,10,11. As dentistry moved into the twenty-first century the attention to ethics would have to be even greater. Ethics in dentistry can be a very tricky and tough road to go down. Commonly, an opioid painkiller is prescribed to manage pain after the surgery. Treat the children if and when they present for treatment would be acknowledging the autonomy of the parent to choose for her minor children. A simple sealant would prevent these from becoming cavities. However, whether we realize it or not, many decisions that confront dental assistants are truly ethical dilemmas. The Dental Hygiene Code of Ethics describes views on morals and ethics that should serve as a guide. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Your session is about to expire. in the dental field. M.A. Some Thoughts on the Dilemmas Faced by Dental Specialists. However, the patient's insurance only covers fillings, not sealants. Call child care services and report the cases of dental neglect in these two children. An example of a true ethical dilemma is when the principle of nonmaleficence is in conflict with the principle of autonomy in a specific situation. The child's parents are there and explain that they work several low-paying jobs to provide for their children. The children seem healthy, well-adjusted and pleasant but have obvious serious dental problems. In health care autonomy gives rise to the concept of permitting individuals to make decisions about their own health, which is the heart of many ethical dilemmas that occur in dentistry. How common are ethical dilemmas in dentistry? Recent figures published by Dental Protection revealed that the willingness in the UK to sue dentists outstripped even the litigation-loving USA. Are all staff members on the same page? Since 2004, the Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs has contributed a series of articles discussing ethical dilemmas confronted in the practice of dentistry. Is this dental neglect or dental ignorance? In order to attract new patients as customers, a dentist may be tempted to create advertisements with exaggerated or false claims. Many examples of ethical dilemmas in dentistry may arise over deciding what is best for the patient when different courses of action conflict with each other. That is a very difficult question to answer as the perception and awareness of ethical issues varies with the individuals involved. ©2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The latest figures state that there are 73 claims for every 1,000 dentists in the UK, compared with 58 in the US. Ethical Dilemmas in Oral Health Care; Principles in Dentistry and Dental Hygiene. The biggest challenge of ethical dilemma is that it does not offer an obvious solution that would comply with ethical norms. The dentist has a duty to treat people fairly. The choices we make in response to these dilemmas serve to determine the moral character of each dental assistant. However, Boards of Dentistry often cite ethics as causative in cases considered by these agencies. Begin education with the mother about dental disease and prevention. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Nowadays ethical standards in modern dentistry are in a tempo with rapid advance. Explore positive examples of professionalism within dentistry. Dental hygienists will face ethical dilemmas at some point in their careers. It is a lot of work to succeed in these offices, but if you utilize textbook dentistry, it’s not that tough. Government Dental College Department of Periodontics Abstract In modern dentistry, like other branches of medicine, a set of principles contribute in establishing codes of ethics. For example, practitioners are required to maintain their level of knowledge and skill through participation in appropriate continuing education programs. Language Barrier. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. That is a very difficult question to answer as the perception and awareness of ethical issues varies with the individuals involved. Summarize informed consent and implied consent with regard to patients, and analyze the difference between the two. In the infection requiring hospitalization subset, all patients were hospitalized, and … While it is usually clear to determine when to report a flagrant incident of child abuse, borderline cases can be much more difficult to evaluate, creating a moral and ethical dilemma. The patient informs the dentist that they cannot afford to pay for the sealants. Do you want to continue logged in? Log in here. Wait until the children can been seen for treatment; monitoring their return visits to assure that dental care is provided in a timely manner. Should the practitioner inform child protective services and risk further hardship for the family? Here are some examples and words of encouragement from the ADAA president. In the end, it all boils down to the ability of the practitioner to discern right from wrong and act accordingly. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. I'll be discussing the Return On Investment (ROI) of doing a dental residency in another post. Please click CONTINUE below to return to your previous page to complete the process. For that reason, it was a surprise for me that Dental field was not the unique career which corresponds with my interest and personality type. These codes which are based on ethical principles, religious beliefs and the social and cultural considerations guide the dental practitioners in their In this hypothetical case, additional options might be available. This situation is very familiar to dental hygienists. Ethical dilemmas arise when one or more ethical principles or core values are in conflict. In this post, I'm just going to focus on the issues those who already made the decision to specialize are facing and make some recommendations. Some ethical dilemmas stem from the fact that many dentists own their own practice. A dentist may encounter a patient with some pre-cavity pits in several teeth. The patient’s previous six to 12 months of treatment and most current x-rays could be discussed. Every clinical situation has ethical aspects. The scope and depth of ethical problems in the delivery of dental care will vary greatly. After elaborating on the scenario you could then tackle the question by applying the four pillars of Medical Ethics which applies to dentistry as well. Corporate quotas: An ethical dilemma for dental hygienists. No studies or evidence exists documenting the volume of problems. Below are some hypothetical ethical dilemmas a dentist may encounter. Are you a teacher? You should always reflect on your dilemmas and solutions with your fellow team members since this can help with future dilemmas and alternatives for resolution. By far, the following approaches to solve an ethical dilemma were deduced: 1. READ MORE | Ethical dilemma: Dental hygienists who work while sick Another way to prevent this dilemma would be a full office review of each hygiene patient in the daily huddle. Notably, the choice of one does not entirely solve the impending challenge. You did not finish creating your certificate. The American College of Dentists provides a digital compilation of the 52 ethical dilemmas (PDF) published in the Texas Dental Journal from 1993 to 2005 and authored by the late Dr. Thomas K. Hasegawa and others.
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