iDentistry The Journal identistry_jan_april2019 | Page 29

The Journal
2. Sometimes, however, a clinician must
determine whether his duty to society requires
him to employ knowledge, obtained through
confidence as a health care provider to protect a
healthy person against a communicable
disease to which he is about to be exposed. In
such instance, the Dental Surgeon should act
as he would wish another to act toward one of
his own family in like circumstances.
2. Appropriate and Pain-free Oral Function: It is
the responsibility of the Dental surgeon to plan
treatments that deal with the specific nature of
dental health for each individual patient with
regards to variables such as the patient’s age,
professional standards of care. general health,
underlying anatomy, and compliance with oral
hygiene. This responsibility is dependent on the
patient’s cooperation, interest and commitment
to the receipt of treatment.
c. Prognosis:
1. The Dental Surgeon should neither
exaggerate nor minimize the gravity of a
patient's disease.
2. He should ensure himself that the patient, his
relatives or his responsible friends have such
knowledge of the patient's condition as will
serve the best interests of the patient and the
family.
d. The Patient must not be neglected:
1. A Dental surgeon is free to choose whom he
will serve.
2. He should, however, respond to any request
for his assistance in an emergency.
3. Once having undertaken a case, the Dental
Surgeon should not neglect the patient, nor
should he withdraw from the case without giving
adequate notice to the patient and his family.
4. He shall not willfully commit an act of
negligence that may deprive his patient or
patients from necessary Dental/Medical care.
e. Service:
1. Life, Health and Well-Being: The primary
concern is the life, general health and well-
being of the patient. It is the responsibility of the
Dental surgeon to provide patients with the
highest quality of care in a timely manner,
acknowledging the constraints presented by
the patient and the resources of the faculty.
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3. Patient Autonomy: The patient has the right to
choose, on the basis of adequate information,
from alternative treatment plans that meet.The
treatment plan may or may not be the
preference of the Dental surgeon or the
supervising faculty. The Dental surgeon’s role is
to provide information in an effort to help the
patient choose a treatment plan.
4. Dignity: Dental surgeons should value and
advocate the dignity and self-respect of
patients. They should relate to all patients
receiving care, as person’s worthy of respect
and endeavor in all their actions to preserve and
demonstrate respect for each individual.
5. Fairness: A Dental surgeon shall not exclude,
as patients, members of society on the basis of
discrimination with respect to factors such as
race, ethnicity, culture, spiritual beliefs, social or
marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age,
health status, lifestyle or the physical attributes
of the patient.
6. Accountability: Dental surgeons should
conduct themselves with honesty and integrity.
They should practice within their own level of
competence. They should seek additional
information or knowledge; seek the help, and/or
supervision and help, of a peer or superior when
aspects of the care required are beyond their
level of competence.
7. Competency: Dental surgeons must keep
knowledge current and strive for new
knowledge.
Vol. 15
No. 1
Jan-April 2019