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3 — Principle: Beneficence ("do good")
The
dentist has a duty to promote
the patient's welfare.
This principle expresses the concept that professionals have a
duty to act for the benefit of others. Under this principle,
the dentist's primary obligation is service to the patient and
the public-at-large. The most important aspect of this obligation
is the competent and timely delivery of dental care within the
bounds of clinical circumstances presented by the patient, with
due consideration being given to the needs, desires and values
of the patient. The same ethical considerations apply whether
the dentist engages in fee-for-service, managed care or some
other practice arrangement. Dentists may choose to enter into
contracts governing the provision of care to a group of patients;
however, contract obligations do not excuse dentists from their
ethical duty to put the patient's welfare first.
- Code of Professional Conduct
3. A. Community Service
3. B. Government of A Profession
3. C. Research & Development
3. D. Patents & Copyrights
3. E. Abuse and Neglect
- Advisory Opinion
3.E.1 Reporting Abuse and Neglect
Code of Professional Conduct
3.A. Community
Service. Since dentists have an obligation to use their skills, knowledge
and experience for the improvement of the dental health of the
public and are encouraged to be leaders in their community, dentists
in such service shall conduct themselves in such a manner as
to maintain or elevate the esteem of the profession.
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3.B. Government
of A Profession. Every profession owes society the responsibility to regulate itself.
Such regulation is achieved largely through the influence of
the professional societies. All dentists, therefore, have the
dual obligation of making themselves a part of a professional
society and of observing its rules of ethics.
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3.C. Research
And Development. Dentists have the obligation of making the results and benefits
of their investigative efforts available to all when they are
useful in safeguarding or promoting the health of the public.
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3.D. Patents
And Copyrights. Patents and copyrights may be secured by dentists provided that
such patents and copyrights shall not be used to restrict research
or practice.
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3.E. Abuse and
Neglect. Dentists shall be obliged to become familiar with the signs of
abuse and neglect and to report suspected cases to the proper
authorities, consistent with state laws.
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3.E.1. Reporting
Abuse and Neglect. The public and the profession are best served by dentists who
are familiar with identifying the signs of abuse and neglect
and knowledgeable about the appropriate intervention resources
for all populations.
A dentist’s ethical obligation to identify and report the
signs of abuse and neglect is, at a minimum, to be consistent
with a dentist’s legal obligation in the jurisdiction where
the dentist practices. Dentists, therefore, are ethically obliged
to identify and report suspected cases of abuse and neglect to
the same extent as they are legally obliged to do so in the jurisdiction
where they practice. Dentists have a concurrent ethical obligation
to respect an adult patient’s right to self-determination
and confidentiality and to promote the welfare of all patients.
Care should be exercised to respect the wishes of an adult patient
who asks that a suspected case of abuse and/or neglect not be
reported, where such a report is not mandated by law. With the
patient’s permission, other possible solutions may be sought.
Dentists should be aware that jurisdictional
laws vary in their definitions of
abuse and neglect, in their reporting requirements
and the extent to which immunity is granted
to good faith reporters. The variances
may raise potential legal and other risks that
should be considered, while keeping in
mind the duty to put the welfare
of the patient first. Therefore a dentist’s ethical
obligation to identify and report suspected
cases of abuse and neglect can vary
from one jurisdiction to another
Dentists are ethically obligated to keep current
their knowledge of both identifying abuse and neglect and reporting
it in the
jurisdiction(s) where they practice
See
also: Report
of the ADA Council on Ethics, Bylaws
and Judicial Affairs on Advisory Opinion 3.E.1 Reporting Abuse
and Neglect
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