| Ethical
Aspects of Dental Practice Arrangements
Statement of the ADA Council on Ethics,
Bylaws,
and Judicial Affairs
The dental profession is continually challenged today to maintain
its high ethical standards in the face of changes in the dental
marketplace. The ethical statements subscribed to by the profession
place the patient’s welfare above any other consideration.
Although the method of health care delivery may change, the overriding
duty of the dentist will always be to provide quality care in
a competent and timely manner.
Dentists who enter into practice arrangements with third parties
may be called upon to reconcile the business demands of these
arrangements with the needs of their patients. Dentists must
not allow these demands to interfere with the patient’s
right to select a treatment option based on informed consent.
Nor should dentists allow such demands to interfere with the
free exercise of their professional judgment or their duty to
make appropriate referrals if indicated. Dentists are reminded
that business obligations do not excuse them from their professional
duty to put the patient’s welfare first.
Adopted 1/95; revised 6/97; revised 12/99
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