Equality and Diversity Flashcards
Which part of the GDC standards does equality relate to?
1.9.1
What is the difference between equality and equity?
Equality- legal term
Equity- ethical term
What are the aspects of the equality act 2010 which impact on dentistry?
– fairness of access to dental services for all patients
– responsibilities of dentists as employers in
discrimination against patients by members of staff
– responsibilities of dentists as employers in
discrimination against members of staff by patients
– discrimination by dentists as employers against members of staff
What is diversity?
Acknowledgement/acceptance of alterity among people in terms of their community, culture, beliefs, life experiences, individuality
What is equality?
Equality is to do with fairness of opportunity and observing the rights of people so that their alterity is not discriminated against
What is equity?
Treating comparable people equally, and people who are unequal in a way that will favour them (give them help based off their needs
Treating people fairly doesn’t mean everyone is treated the same
Results in equality of outcome- differs from equality of opportunity
Explain the difference principle?
Justice necessitates that inequalities in society are met with asymmetrical measures in the form of counter- inequalities so as to achieve equity
What are the aspects in Allport’s scale of prejudice?
Anti-locution- negative things said about people
Avoidance- taking nothing to do with those people
Discrimination- taking action to affect people unfairly due to prejudice
Violence- if discrimination goes unchecked (equality law attacks things at level of discrimination to prevent this happening)
Murder?
What are the aspects of the racism iceberg?
Underlying prejudice
Attribution of fixed traits- attach negative stereotypes (making all people the same)
Notions of superiority and inferiority- people made to feel inferior due to prejudice
Subtle action- thought becomes behaviour
Overt racism
What is meant by protected characteristic?
Characteristic that people cannot be discriminated against for possessing
What are the protected characteristic as per equality act 2010?
- Age- unlawful to discriminate against elderly
- Disability
- Gender reassignment (does this cover discrimination against non-binary/trans people?)
- Marriage and civil partnership- particularly in employment (lack of promotion prospects/opportunities due to home life/relationships)
- Pregnancy/maternity
- Race and ethnicity
- Religion and Belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Which conditions are deemed a disability in all cases and should not be discriminated against as per equality act 2010?
Cancer
HIV infection
Multiple sclerosis
What is the definition of a disabled person as per the equality act 2010?
A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities
What is important to remember about impairment?
- Is determined by the effect on the person
- Need not be linked to medical illness
- Does not require a known cause
- May not be particularly visible
- Can be fluctuating, recurring, or progressive
- The law also applies to discrimination on the basis of past impairment
What is direct discrimination?
Treating people less favourably because of a protected characteristic
What is indirect discrimination?
Putting people with a protected characteristic at an unfair disadvantage
What is associative discrimination?
You get discriminatory treatment due to a friend’s/other’s protected characteristic
What is perceived discrimination?
When it is believed that a person has a protected characteristic and they are discirmaited against because of it (even although they may not have this)
What is harassment?
Violating a person’s dignity, or creating a degrading, humiliating, hostile, intimidating, or offensive environment
What is victimisation?
Detriment to a person who is making use of the Equality Act 2010 or is thought to be doing so
i.e bad treatment of people raising concerns, complaints, or taking employer to employment tribunal
What is instruction to discriminate?
When one person gets someone to carry out discriminatory behaviour on their behalf
What are the key points of the Equality act for dental business owners to know?
- The Equality Act 2010 imposes an obligation to ensure that pregnant women are not discriminated against
- Excluding patients from your practice based on their protected characteristics is direct discrimination, and asking a receptionist to turn them away is instruction to discriminate
- The Act allows employees to bring a claim against dentists for the actions of a third party (e.g. something a patient does). A sign detailing zero tolerance of any harassment of staff could be a defence
- Changing our usual practice unjustifiably for patients with a protected characteristic could be direct discrimination, and placing restrictions may be indirect discrimination
Why is a written equal opportunities policy required in dentistry for practice owners?
Without a written Equal Opportunities Policy, it is virtually impossible to defend a claim against discrimination, regardless of what took place, due to established precedent
-> Staff must be trained in the content of this Policy, as there is no defence if it is not followed or not known about
