What is the purpose for DH code of ethics?
achieve high levels of ethical consciousness, decision making and practice by members of a profession
Core Value?
telling the truth and expecting if from others (truthfulness, integrity, honesty)
Veracity
Core Value?
-deals with PATIENT, not the practitioner (self determination)
-Patient has the right to informed consent and full disclosure of treatment so they can make informed choices about their care
-Right to privacy; freedom of choice
Autonomy
Core Value?
patient information and relationships
Confidentiality
Core Value?
value patient trust, based on our actions and behavior
Societal trust
Core Value?
includes promoting the well-being of individuals and the public (DO GOOD) ex: doing dental screenings
Beneficence
Core Value?
provides everyone access to high-quality, affordable oral healthcare, demonstrating impartiality (fairness)
Justice
Core Value?
-Deals with the PRACTITIONER (do no harm)
-providing services that protect all patients from harm
ex: providing eyewear to patients
Nonmaleficence
This is a wrongful offense against a PERSON.
-Satisfaction is sought (usually money)
-Most dental cases fall under this category
-Common ones are : dental injections, adverse drug reactions (contraindications to medical history), failure to diagnose (peri
Civil Lawsuit
What is the best way to avoid suits?
documentation, charting, and communication
Types of civil law?
Contract law and tort law
What are contracts under Civil law?
Implied: an agreement made through inference by signs, inaction, or silence
Express: oral or written agreement
Involving PRACTITIONER & PATIENT
-Terminating patients: non-compliance and failure to pay
-Abandonment: dismissal of patient without ample and p
What are intentional torts under civil law?
Assault: THREATENING bodily harm (ex: a person raising his hand to threaten to hit someone but doesn't actually do it)
Battery: CAUSING bodily harm (ex: placing sealants on a child's teeth without parental consent or taking radiographs without permission
The types of defamation are libel & slander, describe each.
Libel= WRITTEN defamation
Slander= VERBAL defamation
Unintentional Torts is.......
Negligence/Malpractice: failure to do something which a reasonable person would do
ex: breaking an instrument in a perio pocket and not telling the patient
Who/What is OSHA?
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
-responsible for developing universal/standard precaution protocols for employees to prevent them from contracting disease through blood and/or other body fluids
-protects employee
-pertains to clinics and fac
Who/What is HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
-Maintains patient confidentiality
-HIPAA form needs to be filled ONCE unless, changes are made, & gov't makes a change to HIPAA policy
-office has to provide patient with a copy of HIPAA policy every 3
Who/What is the CDC?
Center for Disease Control
recommends infection control protocol and conducts research to determine how diseases are transmitted
-provides guidelines for disease prevention and transmission
**
located in Atlanta, GA
**
Who/What is COBRA?
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
-give individuals the right to keep the group health insurance benefits for 18 months
-applies if person has reduced work hours, quits or loses job (voluntary or involuntary)
-also provides coverage for spous
What is included in an informed consent?
*example of AUTONOMY
-Presented in understandable language
-Nature & need of procedure
-Benefits/Risks of procedure
-Prognosis: (staging & grading)
-Alternatives to procedure (risks to declining treatment)
-Patient is allowed to ask questions
Term?
Time frame (limitation period) within which legal action may be taken
-varies from state to state and type of lawsuit
Statute of limitations
when it comes to patient dental records, who owns the records?
-the Dentist "owns" the paper where records are printed & software that houses the info
-Patient "owns" the information
-The dentist may charge a reasonable fee to transfer records, even if there is a balance due on the account
-dentist should not withhol
What is included in the patient dental records?
Document of complete data: radiographs, referrals, prescriptions, OHI