DENTISTRY Ethics and Professionalism ENTERING A PROFESSION

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DENTISTRY Ethics and Professionalism
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ENTERING A PROFESSION

• What does that really mean and how does it affect
  your life?
• Must meet a higher standard than the general
  public
• Starts today as a student
• Your actions speak volumes

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WHAT IS A PROFESSION?

• A profession has been defined as an occupation
  involving relatively long and specialized
  preparation on the level of higher education and
  governed by a special code of ethics. The
  constructive aim of a profession is the public
  good. Dentistry is recognized as a profession.
• American College of Dentists, Ethics Handbook
  for Dentists

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FOUR KEY ELEMENTS EXIST

• Important and exclusive expertise
• Internal and external controls and structure
• Autonomy in practice
• Professional obligations - to the profession,
  society, and to patients

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PROFESSIONAL?

• A professional is a member of a profession.
• There are four qualities that have been
• attributed to those in a profession.
• Respect for human beings
• Competency
• Integrity
• Primary concern for service and not fame or
  money.
• American College of Dentists, Ethics Handbook for
  Dentists

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Commitment to the Profession

• Be a leader in the Community
• Provide service to the Community

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Perception Becomes Reality Perception is
Often Based onAppearance
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Look the Part/Act the Part
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ETHICS AND DENTISTRY

• American Dental Association (ADA) Code of Ethics
  and Professional Conduct
• http//www.ada.org/prof/prac/law/code/index.asp
• The dental profession holds a special position of
  trust within society. As a consequence, society
  affords the profession certain privileges that
  are not available to members of the
  public-at-large. In return, the profession makes
  a commitment to society that its members will
  adhere to high ethical standards of conduct.
  These standards are embodied in the ADA
  Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional
  Conduct (ADA Code). The ADA Code is, in effect, a
  written expression of the obligations arising
  from the implied contract between the dental
  profession and society.

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Certainly Perception is Based on Action

• Your actions and attitudes today will effect your
  future

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ETHICS

• Definition of Ethics
• Is as branch of both philosophy and theology, is
  the systematic study of what is right and good
  with respect to character and conduct. Ethics
  seeks to answer two fundamental questions
• 1. What should we do? and
• 2. Why should we do it?
• American College of Dentists

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ETHICS AND DENTISTRY cont..

• American College of Dentists
• Ethics are the moral principals or
• virtues that govern the character and
• conduct of an individual group.

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DENTAL ETHICS

• The object of ethics is to emphasize spirit (or
  intent) rather than law. Dental ethics applies
  moral principles and virtues to the practice of
  dentistry.
• American College of Dentists

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Dentists Pledge

• I, as a member of the dental profession, shall
  keep this pledge and these stipulations.
• I understand and accept that my primary
  responsibility is to my patients, and I shall
  dedicate myself to render, to the best of my
  ability, the highest standard of oral health care
  and to maintain a relationship of respect and
  confidence. Therefore, let all come to me safe
  in the knowledge that their total health and well
  being are my first considerations.

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Dentists Pledge cont.

• I shall accept the responsibility that, as a
  professional, my competence rests on continuing
  the attainment of knowledge and skill in the arts
  and sciences of dentistry.

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Dentists Pledge cont.

• I acknowledge my obligations to support and
  sustain the honor and integrity of the profession
  and to conduct myself in all endeavors such that
  I shall merit the respect of my patients,
  colleagues and my community.

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Dentists Pledge Cont..

• I further commit myself to the betterment of my
  community for the benefit of all society. I
  shall faithfully observe the Principles of Ethics
  and Code of Professional Conduct set forth by the
  profession. All this I pledge with pride in my
  commitment to the profession and public it serves.