ethics in dentistry

Question 1

what are the four pillars of ethics?

Answer 1

• justice
• respect for autonomy
• beneficence
• non-maleficence

Question 2

what are the 9 GDC standards?

Answer 2

1. patients best interest
2. communicate effectively with patients
3. obtain valid consent
4. maintain and protect patients’ info
5. clear and effective complaints procedure
6. work with colleagues in patients’ best interest
7. maintain, develop and work within professional knowledge and skills
8. raise concern if patients are at risk
9. ensure personal behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in you and the dental profession

Question 3

what are the main parties involved in public law?

Answer 3

individuals and the state

Question 4

what is public law responsible for?

Answer 4

regulating a harmonious relation between citizens and the state

Question 5

what type of law is criminal law?

Answer 5

public

Question 6

what type of law is civil law?

Answer 6

private

Question 7

how is public law punished?

Answer 7

imprisonment, fine, community service

Question 8

how is civil law punished?

Answer 8

pay damages, injunction

Question 9

what are the parties involved in civil law?

Answer 9

individual citizen relationships

Question 10

which type of law can be taken to supreme court?

Answer 10

civil/private

Question 11

which type of law can be taken to high court?

Answer 11

criminal/public

Question 12

who automatically has parental responsibility?

Answer 12

mothers

Question 13

when do natural fathers acquire parental responsibility?

Answer 13

• upon marriage to the mother (remains after a divorce)
• OR if they are registered as the father on the birth certificate

Question 14

what is lawful disclosure?

Answer 14

• patients give their consent
• when it is a requirement by law
• when there is a compelling public interest

Question 15

what is required after a confidentiality breach?

Answer 15

• proper apology
• investigating details of what happened and how
• offer a meeting with the patient to discuss
• conduct any staff training requires and review record-keeping system to prevent recurrence
• inform the patient of these steps being taken

Question 16

HIV confidentiality?

Answer 16

• HIV has implications for oral health and dental care
• dentist should talk to a HIV+ patient about informing their partner
• if patient is unwiling to tell partner a public disclosure should be considered

Question 17

What are the 5 main standards for patient information in dentistry?

Answer 17

• make and keep contemporaneous and accurate patient records
• protect the confidentiality of patients information and only use it for the purpose for which is what given
• only release a patients information without their permission in exceptional circumstances
• ensure the patients have access to their records
• keep patients information secure at all times, whether your records are held on paper or electronically

Question 18

Can a patient request to take their own notes home?

Answer 18

• patient is entitled to see their own notes (either to view or to take a copy)
• they can get a copy but not the original practice copy of the notes

Question 19

Who has access to a patients notes?

Answer 19

• the patient
• whoever is treating the patient

Question 20

Who is responsible for the COPY of the patients notes?

Answer 20

The patient

Question 21

How must the patient gain access to their notes?

Answer 21

In writing (proof patient requested their records)

Question 22

Why must a request for a copy or view of the patients own notes be done in writing?

Answer 22

• proof of request
• time for practice to make a copy/ get the notes out

Question 23

What way is the patient given a copy of their notes?

Answer 23

Any way they want, a photocopy, a usb etc.

Question 24

How long does the practice have to provide the patient with a copy of their notes?

Answer 24

• 30 days
• acknowledgment of request for copy by 2 weeks

Question 25

How much does a copy of the patients notes cost the patient?

Answer 25

No charge (unless an unreasonable amount of requests)

Question 26

What must be required in order to provide patient information to a third party?

Answer 26

• written consent from the patient

Question 27

What is the one exception to the requirement for written consent for access to patient information?

Answer 27

Court order

Question 28

Could solicitors request patient information from a practice with a written patient consent?

Answer 28

Yes (assume solicitors are always doing morally correct)

Question 29

What are the rules surrounding police access to patient notes?

Answer 29

• police are NOT routinely entitled to have access to patient notes without consent
• except
  In the prevention/detection of crime (must know what the crime is)
  In the apprehension/prosecution of offenders
  The assessment or collection of any tax or duty
• unless the above is clarified, you can ask what the crime was in order to make a judgement

Question 30

When is lawful disclosure permitted?

Answer 30

• patients give consent
• when its requirement by law eg court order
• when there is a compelling public interest eg safety of others

Question 31

What are the steps which must be undergone is confidentiality is breached?

Answer 31

• proper apology in person and in writing
• details of what happened and how investigated
• offer a meeting with the patient to discuss
• conduct any staff training/ record-keeping required to prevent recurrence
• inform patient of the measures being taken
• security of patient info is a legal obligation from data protection act 2018