COURSE IN ETHICS

COURSE IN ETHICS

INTRODUCTION: There is a definite shift now from the traditional patient and doctor relationship and delivery of dental care. With the advances in science and technology and the increasing needs of the patient, their families and community, there is a concern for the health of the community as a whole. There is a shift to greater accountability to the society. Dental specialists like the other health professionals are confronted with many ethical problems. It is therefore absolutely necessary for each and every one in the health care delivery to prepare themselves to deal with these problems. To accomplish this and develop human values Council desires that all the trainees undergo ethical sensitization by lectures or discussion on ethical issues, discussion of cases with an important ethical component.

Course content:
Introduction to ethics -
- what is ethics?
- What are values and norms?
- How to form a value system in one's personal and professional life?
- Hippocratic oath.
- Declaration of Helsinki, WHO declaration of Geneva, International code of ethics,
- D.C.I. Code of ethics.

Ethics of the individual -
The patient as a person.
Right to be respected
Truth and confidentiality
Autonomy of decision
Doctor Patient relationship

Profession Ethics -
Code of conduct
Contract and confidentiality
Charging of fees, fee splitting
Prescription of drugs
Over-investigating the patient
Malpractice and negligence

Research Ethics -

Animal and experimental research/humanness
Human experimentation
Human volunteer research-informed consent
Drug trials

Ethical workshop of cases
Gathering all scientific factors
Gathering all value factors
Identifying areas of value - conflict, setting