Ethics and professionalism Oxford English Dictionary  Relates to morals, what is honourable  What is a PROFESSION …..  A body of people recognised by their specific skills and learning in an activity where the public need protection

The dental profession  A body that declare they are willing to serve the public.  They voluntarily submit to standards of ethical conduct beyond those required by the ordinary citizen.  Undertake to accept personal responsibility to those they serve for their actions and to their profession for maintaining public confidence

 Undertake to accept personal responsibilty to those they serve and maintain public confidence.

professional  Subject to the law and ethical code of conduct.  General Dental Council Standards guidance documents  A discipline of all achieving a comparable standard.

 The dentist and dental care professional will practice dentistry according to the art and science of dentistry and the principles of humanity.  They will safe guard the oral health of patients irrespective of their individual status

The General Dental Council  Set up by parliament to protect the public  Responsible for registration and education.  Self regulation ….specialist lists  GDC visitations to dental schools every 6 years

Fitness to practice  Breaches of ethical dental practice can lead to loss of registration.  Putting patients first….as a member of a caring profession a dental professional has a responsibility to put the interests of the patient first.  The relationship between dentist (dcp) and patient relies on trust and the assumption that a dentist will act in the best interests of patients

Standards Guidance  The GDC Standards guidance.  Principles of Patient Consent  Principles of Patient Confidentiality  Principles of Raising Concerns  Principles of Complaints Handling  Principles of Dental Teamworking

CPD  Continuing Professional Development  The dental professional has a duty to maintain and update their professional competence through continuing education throughout their professional life

Professional Indemnity Ethical obligation…. A dentist /dcp involved in advising or treating patients must hold membership of a defence organisation. This is in the interests of the patient who may have a right for compensation and the professional who may require legal or professional advice

Interprofessional responsibilities  Responsible for patients  Responsible to the community  Responsible to the staff and other team members  Responsible to other health related professions and agencies

Treatment of patients  Always act in the interests of patients  Respect patient confidentiality  Obtain proper consent  Act in a professional manner  Apply discretion,skill,  And Judgement…

Protecting patients  a dentist or dcp must act to protect patients when there is reason to believe that the patient,s care is threatened by a colleague,s conduct,performance or health.  The safety of patients must come first at all times and should override personal and professional loyalties.

Patient consent  Reasonable that a patient should be told what is about to be done to him that he may take courage and put himself in such a situation as to enable him to undergo the operation…1767  Slater v Baker and Stapleton

Valid consent  The patient must be given sufficient information from which to form balanced judgement……informed consent  The patient must have sufficient mental capacity to understand to what he or she is considering  Consent must be given freely

 Define a professional person  Define a group or professional body