Code of Ethics
Preamble
This Code of Ethics is a set of principles of professional
conduct to which dentists must aspire to fulfil their duties to their
patients, to the public, to the profession, and to their colleagues.
This Code affirms or clarifies principles that are definitive
of professional and ethical dental care. For those about to enter the
profession, this Code identifies the basic moral commitments of dentistry
and will serve as a source for education and reflection.
For those within the profession, this Code provides direction
for ethical practice: in so doing, it also serves as a basis for
self-evaluation.
For those outside the profession, this Code provides public
identification of the profession's ethical expectations of its members.
Therefore, this Code of Ethics is educational, guides behaviour and
expresses to the larger community the values and ideals that we espouse by
reason of trust and commitment.
Principles
Summary
Responsibilities
to Patients
Responsibilities
to the Public
Responsibilities
to the Profession
Responsibilities
to Colleagues
Principles
This Code is the national guideline of, and expresses the
values shared by, the dental profession across Kuwait. A dentist's foremost responsibility is to the patient.
Dentistry is a profession, in part, because the decisions of its members
involve moral choices. Every dental practitioner makes decisions that
involve choices between conflicting values while providing care for
patients.
These values should be carefully considered by a dentist and
decisions regarding them should be made prior to providing treatment. Among
these are the particular values to which the dental profession is
especially committed. These are listed here in the order of priority
beginning with the most important and include:
Life and Health: The primary concern is the
life and general health of the patient.
Appropriate and Pain Free Oral Function: The
specific nature of dental health for each individual patient depends on
variables including the patient's age, general health, underlying anatomy,
and compliance with oral hygiene.
Patient Autonomy: The patient has the right
to choose, on the basis of adequate information, from alternate treatment
plans that meet professional standards of care. The treatment plan chosen
by the patient may or may not be that which the dentist would prefer.
Practice Preferences: Dentists vary in the range
of services performed and the method of delivery of those services.
A dentist's individual preference in the delivery of dental
care plays an important role in treatment recommendations and decisions.
This preference should be acknowledged by the patient.
Aesthetic Values: Oral and facial appearance
is important to the self image of the patient and an important
consideration of dental practice.
Cost: Dentistry often offers treatment choices with a range of
costs. Appropriate treatment alternatives are to be presented each with its
associated costs and benefits.
Under certain circumstances, a lower ranked value may
justifiably be chosen over the next higher. These circumstances will depend
upon the clinical situation that may arise. Other external factors may be
present but rarely be of such ethical significance as to outweigh the
prioritized values, particularly the higher values.
Top
of page
Summary
This Code is intended to guide a dynamic process of interaction
between a dentist and patient, and the dental profession and the larger
community. It reflects not only current thought on issues, but is also an
ethical framework that is responsive to changing needs and values. While
change is inevitable - certain truths will always remain for us to identify
in our response to the human condition.
To emphasize, the dentist's primary responsibility is to the
patient. In fulfilling this responsibility, the dentist shall uphold the
honour and the dignity of the profession and shall adhere to professional
codes and obligations as well as the required applicable legislation.
Top
of page
Responsibilities
to Patients
Article 1: Service
As a primary health care provider, a dentist's first
responsibility is to the patient. As such, the competent and timely
delivery of quality care within the bounds of clinical circumstances
presented by the patient, shall be the most important aspect of that
responsibility.
Article 2: Competency
The privilege of dentists to be accorded professional status
rests primarily in the knowledge, skill, and experience with which they
serve their patients and society. All dentists, therefore, must keep their
knowledge of dentistry contemporary, and must provide treatment in
accordance with currently accepted professional standards.
A practitioner should inform the dental licensing authority
when a serious injury, dependency, infection or any other condition has
either immediately affected, or may affect over time, his or her ability to
practice safely and competently.
Article 3: Consultation and Referral
Dentists shall provide treatment only when qualified by
training or experience; otherwise a consultation and/or referral to an
appropriate practitioner is warranted.
Article 4: Emergencies
A dental emergency exists if professional judgement determines
that a person needs immediate attention to relieve pain, or to control
infection or bleeding. Dentists have an obligation to consult and to
provide treatment in a dental emergency, or if they are unavailable, to
make alternative arrangements.
Article 5: Provision of Duties
A dentist shall remember the duty of service to the patient and
therefore is responsible to provide for care to all members of society. A
dentist shall not exclude, as patients, members of society on the basis of
discrimination which may be contrary to applicable human rights
legislation. Other than in an emergency situation, a dentist has the right
to refuse to accept an individual as a patient on the basis of personal
conflict or time constraint.
Article 6: Delegation of Duties
Dentists must protect the health of the patients by delegating
duties or procedures only to those persons qualified by skill, training and
licensure.
Article 7: Arrangements for Alternate Care
A dentist having undertaken the care of a patient shall not
discontinue that care without first having given notice of that intention
and shall endeavour to arrange for continuity of care with colleagues.
Article 8: Choice of Treatment
A dentist must discuss with the patient treatment
recommendations including benefits, prognosis and risks, reasonable
alternatives and associated costs to allow the patient to make an informed
choice.
A dentist shall inform the patient if the proposed oral health
care involves treatment techniques or products which are not in general
recognized or accepted by the dental profession.
Article 9: Confidentiality
Patient information acquired in the practice of dentistry,
shall be kept in strict confidence except as required by law.
Article 10: Guarantee
A dentist must, neither by statement nor implication, warrant
or guarantee the success of operations, appliances or treatment. A dentist
has the responsibility to provide a high standard of care and accept
responsibility for treatment rendered.
Article 11: Provision of Information
A dentist is obligated to provide to the patient fair comment
and opinion of their oral health.
Article 12: Records
A dentist must establish and maintain adequate records of
medical?dental history, clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment of each
patient. Such records or reports of clinical information must be released
to the patient or to whomever the patient directs, when requested by the
patient. Original records should be retained and a duplicate provided.
Top
of page
Responsibilities
to the Public
Article 1: Representation
Dentists should represent themselves in a manner that
contributes to the esteem of the profession. Dentists shall not represent
their education, qualifications or competence in any way that would be
false or misleading.
Article 2: Contractual Services
A dentist, by entering into a contract with an organization or
other party involving the practice of dentistry, neither reduces personal
professional responsibilities nor transfers any part of those ethical or
legal responsibilities to that organization or other party.
Article 3: Choice of Dentist
A dentist shall at all times respect and support the public's
right to a free choice of dentist. A dentist must not participate in any
plan, scheme or arrangement which might limit or interfere with a person's
freedom or ability to choose a dentist.
Article 4: Fees and Compensation for Service
A dentist is responsible to establish usual and customary fees
for professional services. While a dentist is entitled to reasonable
compensation for services performed, a dentist may not enter into an
arrangement whereby the referral of patients results in a fee paid, a
commission, a discount or other consideration to the dentist or another
party.
Article 5: Third Party Dental Plans
Dentists must ensure that any claims for patient care are
accurate statements of services rendered to the patient. A dentist must not
determine treatment decisions or fees charged based solely on the existence
of a third party dental plan.
Article 6: Community Activities
Dentists by virtue of their education and role in society, are
encouraged to support and participate in community affairs, particularly
when these activities promote the health and well?being of the public.
Article 7: Market Advocacy
Dentists must not lend their name or provide written
testimonial for reward or not, to any product or material offered to the
public.
Top
of page
Responsibilities
to the Profession
Article 1: Support of the Profession
Society provides the profession the privilege of
self-regulation. This responsibility is borne and implemented by
professional associations and licensing bodies. Therefore, dentists have an
obligation to participate in the advancement of the profession, support of
its professional organizations and to observe applicable Codes of Ethics.
Article 2: Inappropriate Conduct
A dentist has an obligation to report to the appropriate review
body, unprofessional conduct or failure to provide treatment in accordance
with currently accepted professional standards.
Article 3: Advertising
Dentists should build their reputation on their professional
ability and integrity. Dentists should participate in health promotion
programs that are in the best interest of the public and supported by the
profession. Dentists shall conduct any promotional activity in accordance
with acceptable professional standards and within applicable legislation.
Article 4: Professional Equality
The profession should be viewed as a partnership of equals.
Although interests and expertise may vary, all dentists are colleagues that
have equal moral status and obligation in the decision making process of
the activities of the profession.
Article 5: Patients and Copyright
Dentists have the obligation of making the results of their
investigative efforts available to all when they are useful in safeguarding
or promoting the health and well?being of the public.
Patents and copyrights may be secured by a dentist provided
that they and the remuneration derived from them are not used to restrict
research, practice, or the benefits of the patented or copyrighted
material.
Top
of page
Responsibilities
to Colleagues
Article 1: Consultation and Referral
When a patient is referred to another dentist for consultation
and/or treatment, a dentist, upon completion of the care contemplated in
the referrals, shall return the patient to the referring dentist.
Article 2: Judgements in Peer Relations
A dentist should not make disparaging comments of the
procedures or qualifications of a colleague to a patient or the public. In
the interest of the public dentists are encouraged to consult with a
previous dentist, concerning treatment rendered. Through discussion, it
should be possible to advise a patient how to achieve an appropriate
resolution.
Revised by KDA website committee May 2007
Top
of page
|
