2 . G . PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PATIENTS . Dentists should avoid interpersonal relationships that could impair their professional judgment or risk the possibility of exploiting the confidence placed in them by a patient .
Section 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 . 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 .
ADVISORY OPINION
3 . A . 1 . ELECTIVE AND NON-EMERGENT PROCEDURES DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY .
Dentists have ethical obligations to provide care for patients and also serve the public at large . Typically , these obligations are interrelated . Dentists are able to provide oral health care for patients according to the patient ’ s desires and wishes , so long as the treatment is within the scope of what is deemed acceptable care without causing the patient harm or impacting the public . During public health crises or emergencies , however , the dentist ’ s ethical obligation to the public may supersede the dentist ’ s ethical obligations to individual patients . This may occur , for example , when a communicable disease causes individual patients who undergo treatment and / or the public to be exposed to elevated health risks . During the time of a public health emergency , therefore , dentists should balance the competing ethical obligations to individual patients and the public . If , for example , a patient requests an elective or non-emergent procedure during a public health crisis , the dentist should weigh the risk to the patient and the public from performing that procedure during the public health emergency , postponing such treatment if , in the dentist ’ s judgment , the risk of harm to the patient and / or the public is elevated and cannot be suitably mitigated . If , however , the patient presents with an urgent or emergent condition necessitating treatment to prevent or eliminate infection or to preserve the structure and function of teeth or orofacial hard and soft tissues , the weighing
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