Update
Purpose of the DH Code of Ethics - ANSWER To achieve high levels of ethical consciousness,
decision making, and practice by members of a profession.
DH core values include: - ANSWER Veracity
Autonomy
Beneficence
Justice
Non-maleficence
Confidentiality
Societal trust
Veracity - ANSWER Truthfulness
Autonomy - ANSWER -Deals with the PATIENT, not the practitioner.
-Right to privacy; freedom of choice
The patients have rights to informed consent, full disclosure, privacy, freedom of choice, etc.
Beneficence - ANSWER -Do what benefits the patient (promotes their well-being)
-Example: Doing dental screening
Justice - ANSWER Fairness
Non-Maleficence - ANSWER Do no harm. Deals with the PRACTITIONER.
Example- providing protective eyewear to the patient
,Confidentiality - ANSWER The act of holding information in confidence, not to be released to
unauthorized individuals
Societal Trust - ANSWER Value patient trust.
Based on our actions and behavior.
Civil offense - ANSWER -A crime against an INDIVIDUAL but not against society.
-Satisfaction is sought (usually money)
-Most dental cases fall under this category.
-Common lawsuits are dental injections, adverse drug reactions related to contraindications to
medical history, or failure to diagnose
-Best way to avoid lawsuits is through documentation, charting, and communication
What is the best way to avoid lawsuits - ANSWER Best way to avoid lawsuits is through
documentation, charting, and communication
Civil Law: Contract Law - ANSWER -2 main types: implied and expressed
-Involves the practitioner and patient
-Can involve termination of patients and abandonment of patients
Implied contract - ANSWER An agreement made through inference by signs, inaction or silence
Expressed contract - ANSWER A written or oral agreement in which all terms are explicitly
stated
Abandonment in contracts - ANSWER Dismissal of a patient without ample and proper notice
,Civil Law: Tort Law - ANSWER Wrongs against a person or property: damages can be sought by
injured party.
Intentional Torts (civil law: torts) includes: - ANSWER -Assault
-Battery
-Deceit/Misrepresentation
-Defamation
-Breach of confidentiality
-Invasion of property (patients body is the property)
Assault - ANSWER -A type of intentional tort
-Intention to cause bodily harm WITHOUT actually doing it (threatening)
Battery - ANSWER -A type of intentional tort
-Intention to cause bodily harm WITH touching them
Defamation - ANSWER -A type of intentional tort
-Act of harming or ruining another's reputation
-2 types (libel and slander)
Libel - ANSWER -A type of defamation (which is an intentional tort)
-WRITTEN defamation
-Think L=Library > Libel
Slander - ANSWER -A type of defamation (which is an intentional tort)
-Verbal defamation
-Think S=Spoken > Slander
, Unintentional Tort (Civil law: torts) includes: - ANSWER Negligence and malpractice
Negligence - ANSWER -Failure to do what a reasonable person would do
-Includes Standard of Care and duty
-Example: breaking instrument tip in periodontal pocket and neglecting to tell the patient
4 essential factors in negligence:
1. Acceptance of the patient by the provider
2. Breach of duty (harm does not have to happen to be a breach)
3. Causal relationship between the breach and damage
4. Damage or harm to the patient
2 main types of law - ANSWER Civil and criminal
2 main branches off of civil law - ANSWER Contract law and tort law
OSHA - ANSWER Occupational Safety and Health Administration
-Responsible for developing universal/standard precaution protocols for employees to prevent
them from contracting disease through blood and/or other body fluids
-Protects the employees
-Pertains to clinics and facilities
-Includes Blood-Borne Pathogens and MSDS
HIPAA - ANSWER Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996