Professionalism and Ethics in Dental Medicine

ethics

formal process of intentionally and critically analyzing the basis of your moral judgements for clarity and consistency, used to evaluate actions and behaviors

morals

personal choices/beliefs based on your upbringing, faith traditions, and experiences

conscience

based on individual moral values or an inner feeling or voice; acts as guide to rightness/wrongness of behavior

integrity

firm adherence to a strong moral code, acting in adherence with one's beliefs, being honest (opposite of hypocrisy)

Can ethics be learned?

Yes, moral judgment is not innate or born

Dunning-Kruger Effect

a cognitive bias in which people with limited competence in a particular domain overestimate their abilities

cognitive dissonance

the discomfort experienced when two cognitions are incompatible

Why do ethical people do unethical things?

-malice
-ignorance
-rationalization
-fear of being wrong
-stress

What is a profession?

a calling requiring specialized knowledge/skill, lengthly education, intensive training, word profess, a universal moral code, and highly valued aspects of human life

privileges of being a professional

-private information
-touching strangers
-respect and high esteem
-trusted, needed, seen as good

ADA Principles

1. autonomy
2. veracity
3. beneficence
4. non-maleficence
5. justice

autonomy

self-governance and self-determination, making your own decisions

veracity

honesty and truthfulness

beneficence

do good to the individual and community

non-maleficence

do no harm at the individual and community level

justice

fairness (not the same as equality)

unprofessional behavior

behavior that violates the ethical principles professionals have promised to uphold

3 professional obligations and expectations

1. professional ethics
2. professional behavior
3. professional responsibilities

professional ethics

ethics a person MUST adhere to with respect to interactions and business dealings in professional life

professional behavior

being present, on time, reliable, honest, citing sources, respectful, etc.

professional responsibilities

self regulation, passing on knowledge, serving all people, do not abuse privileges, uphold public's trust

hidden curriculum

the side effects of learning that tell you how to be a professional (knowing more than just medicine)

ethical dilemma

when 2+ ethical principles conflict with daily professional life

three conditions of an ethical dilemma

1. decision must be made with best course of action
2. different courses of action are possible
3. some ethical principle will be compromised (no perfect solution)

ethical violation

behavior that violates 1+ ethical principles, resulting in unprofessional behavior

Bias

prejudice in favor or against one thing/person/group compared to another, typically in an unfair way

implicit bias

pervasive subconscious stereotypes and prejudice possessed by everyone

Examples of bad arguments

-ad hominem
-straw man
-scare tactics
-false dichotomies
-burden of proof
-circular reasoning
-correlation vs causation
-slippery slope fallacy

two moral frameworks

1. consequentialism (when the ends justify the means of an action)
2. deontology (moral duty and obligation, ends cannot justify means)

When do you use consequentialism?

in research and policy or when making clinical decisions

When do you use deontology?

in patient care and academic integrity; with colleagues, patients, or employees (they are ends in themselves)